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ml  PAGEANT  OF  THETFORD 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

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Poofe  of  OTortig 


®f)e  pageant  of  Cfjetforb 


3n  Celebration  of  tte  0nt  ^unbreb  anb  Jfiftietf) 
i^nnibersiarp  of  tfje  (Granting  of  tfje  Cfjarter. 

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TOiiUiam  Cljauncp  Eansbon 

iWasfter  of  tfje  pageant 


©n  tfje  Jianfes;  of  t\)t  Connecticut  l^itier 

tKljetforb,  \Termont 

aiusu£(t  12,  14,  15,  1911 

^^ly..  ®F  CALIF.    LIBRAf.Y,    LOS  MGSLF^ 


Copyright  1911  by 
WILLIAM  CHAUNCY  LANGDON 


All  Rights  Reserved 


The  Vermonter    Prtss 
White  River  Junction 


TmLa5 
Wbt  Pageant  of  tKfjetforb 

$i 

THE  VILLAGES  OF  THETFORD 

£^as^  Thetford 

Thetford  Center 

Thetford  Hill 
North   Thetford 
Post  Mills 

Union   Village 

COMMITTEES  OF  THE  PAGEANT 

THE  PAGEANT  COMMITTEE 

Mr.  ARTHUR  H.  PALMER,  Chairman 

Miss  MARGARET  FLETCHER,  Secretary 

Mr.  CHARLES  C.  EMERSON,  Treasurer 

Dr.  L.  B.  ALLEN 

Mrs.  A.  H.  COLTON 

Mr.  CHARLES  C.  COOK 

Mrs.   CHARLES  H.  FARNSWORTH 

Mr.  FREDERICK  T.  HOWARD 

Miss  ADELLA  MARTIN 

Mrs.  WILLIAM  MURFEY 

Mr.  NELSON  PORTER 

Mrs.  NELSON  PORTER 

Mrs.  W.  K.  PORTER,  Jr. 

Mr.  ELLSWORTH  SARGENT 

Rev.  WILLIAM  SLADE 

Mrs.  C1IA!:LES  VAUGHAN 


1109136 


THE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE 
on  the   Development  of  the  Town's  Resources 

Prof.  MARSHALL  CUMMINGS,   Chairman 

HON.  GUV  \V.  BAILEY 

Mr.  RAY  STANNARD  BAKER 

Mr.  BRUCE  CRANE 

Mr.  L.  G.  DODGE 

Prof.  C.  H.  EARNS  WORTH 

Mr.  ARTHUR  FARWELL 

Mr.  JOHN  M.  GLENN 

Dr.  LUTHER  H.  GULICK 

Mr.  A.  F.  HAWES 

Hon.  WILLETT  M.  HAYS 

Prest.  ELIAS  LYMAN 

HON.  GIFFORD  PINCHOT 

Mr.  ERNEST  THOMPSON  SETON 

Prof.  H.  DYKE  SLEEPER. 

Prest.  JOHN  M.  THOMAS 

Dr.  MILTON  WHITNEY 

Mr    H.  J.  WILDER 

Mrs    MARY  SCHENCK  WOOLMAN 

ART  COMMITTEE 
Miss  KATHERINE  VAUGHAN 
Mrs.  WILLIAM  CHAUNCY  LANGDON 

COSTUME   COMMITTEE 
Mrs.  W.  K.  PORTER,  Jr. 
Miss  CHRISTINE  VAUGHAN 

MUSIC   COMMITTEE 
Mrs.  WILLIAM  SLADE 
Mrs.  WILLIAM  MURFEY 
Rev.  WILLIAM  W.  SLEEPER 
Prof.  CHARLES  H.  FARNSWORTH 


MASTER  OF  THE  PAGEANT 
WILLIAM  CHAUNCY  LANGDON 

DIRECTOR  OF  THE  MUSIC  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  DANCE 

JAMES  T.  SLEEPER  Mis.s  VIRGINIA  TANNER 

ASSISTANT 
Miss  EDITH  BROWNELL 


4 


jForetDorb. 


THE  PAGEANT  OF  THETFORD  presents  in  dramatic 
form  the  history  of  the  town  of  Thetford,  Vermont, 
from  the  coming  of  the  first  settler  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
ago  down  to  the  present  time  and  on  into  the  future. 

Thetford  is  a  typical  agricultural  town  of  Vermont,  whose 
history  has  been  that  of  most  of  the  farm  towns  of  New  Eng- 
land. In  connection  with  the  Pageant,  the  people  of  the  town 
have  entered  upon  a  movement  for  a  general  development  of 
their  resources, — agricultural,  educational,  and  social.  In 
this  they  are  receiving  the  direct  assistance  of  the  University 
of  Vermont  and  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture. The  results  of  this  development  work  are  suggested  in 
the  last  section  of  the  Pageant,  the  Episodes  of  the  Future. 
The  Pageant  of  Thetford,  therefore,  is  a  study  of  the  rural 
problem  and,  it  is  hoped,  a  contribution  toward  making  the 
country  town  an  ideal  place  to  live  in. 

The  episodes  are  historically  correct  so  far  as  they  refer 
to  actual  events  in  the  past.  A  certain  freedom  has  been 
exercised,  however,  for  the  sake  of  dramatic  effectiveness. 
In  general,  the  people  of  the  villages  concerned  in  the  histor- 
ical events  which  are  portrayed  take  the  parts  of  their  ances- 
tors in  the  various  episodes. 

The  pageant  grounds  are  on  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut 
River  near  the  village  of  North  Thetford.  The  grand-stand 
faces  south  toward  a  grove  of  large  pine  trees  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  away.  A  low  vine-covered  fence  divides  the 
ground  into  two  parts,  the  nearer  of  which  is  used  for  most  of 
the  individual  action. 

W.   C.   L. 


Cpis^obesi  of  tf)e  pageant 

INTRODUCTION.— THE    NATURE   SPIRITS    AND 
THE  INDIANS. 

1.  The  coming  of  the  first  settler,   "Old  Quail 

John." 

2.  Richard  Wallace  and  Burgoyne's  Invasion. 

3.  The   building  of   the   Church  on  Thetford 

Hill,  and  the  Musical  Society  in  Thetford 
and  Lyme. 

INTERLUDE  I.— THE  SPIRIT  OF  HOME. 

4.  The  Founding  of  the  Thetford  Academy. 

5.  The  Country  Fair. 

6.  The  Coming  of  the  Railroad. 

INTERLUDE  11. —THE  AGE  OF   HOMESPUN  ; 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  WAR. 

7.  The  Civil  War. 

8.  The  Introduction  of  Machinery. 

9.  The  Rural  Problem. 

INTERLUDE  III.— THE  SPIRIT  OF  PAGEANTRY. 

10.  The  New  Agriculture. 

11.  The  New  Education. 

12.  The  New  Life. 

FINALE. — Thetford  presents  her  six  Villages,  and  the 
past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  to  Vermont 
and  to  America. 

6 


W\}t  Mn^it  of  tlje  pageant. 


INTRODUCTION. 

THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN 
THE  SPIRIT  OF   THE  RIVER 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  INTERVALE 

SONG  OF  THE  TOTEM  POLE 
SONG  OF  THE   WORLD 


James  T.   Sleeper 
Indian  Melodies 


EPISODE  1 


CANOE  SONG 


Indian  Melody 


EPISODE  2 


THE  BRITISH  GRENADIER 
YANKEE  DOODLE 


INVITATION 
BRIDGEWATER 
NEW  JERUSALEM 


EPISODE  3 


Old  Hymns 


INTERLUDE  I 

THE  SPIRITS  OF  THE  RIVER 
THE  SPIRITS  OF  THE  INTERVALE 
THE  SPIRITS  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  HOME 


James  T.  Sleeper 


EPISODE  4 


ODE  TO  THETFORD 
FAIR  THETFORD 


James  T.  Sleeper 
Thetford  Academy  Song 


INTERLUDE  II 

PASTORALE  Arabella  Coalc 

CAPTAIN  JINKS 

POP  GOES  THE  WEASEL 

MARCH  FROM  THE  NUTCRACKER  SUITE  Tschaikowsky 


EPISODE  7 

BATTLE  HYMN  OF  THE  REPUBLIC 
HYMN  TO  LIBERTY 


Arthur  Farwell 


INTERLUDE   III 


SARABANDE 
HUMORESKE 
CHORUS:     RAISE  THY  HEAD 


Bach 

Dvorak 

James  T.   Sleeper 


EPISODE  10 

CHORUS:     COME  WITH  A  CHEER,  GOOD 
NEIGHBORS,    COME 


James  T.  Sleeper 


FINALE 


CHORUS:     HAIL,    THE  FOREST  DAYS  OF  OLD 

James  T    Sleeper 


STAR  SPANGLED  BANNER 


8 


Ci)e  pageant  of  C^etfortr. 

INTRODUCTION. 

THE  NATURE  SPIRITS  AND  THE  INDIANS. 

[A  dramatic  dance  symbolic  of  the  three  Nature  Elements  of  Thetford — 
the  mountains,  the  river,  and  the  intervale. 

FROM  the  west  of  the  pine  grove  comes  the  Spirit  of  the 
Mountains.  She  is  tall  and  dark,  clothed  in  green,  her 
draperies  caught  with  pine  and  other  evergreen  branches.  Her 
movements  are  slow  and  stately;  she  stands  motionless  from 
time  to  time. 

Toward  her,  from  the  river  bank  on  the  east,  comes 
dancing  the  Spirit  of  the  River.  She  is  not  so  tall,  and  she 
is  fair  in  coloring.  Her  draperies  are  blue,  with  a  shimmer 
of  white  through  the  blue,  like  the  light  of  sunshine  on  the 
water.  Her  movements  are  swift  and  smooth,  sweeping  up 
to  the  Spirit  of  the  Mountains  and  away  from  her.  Her 
moods  are  alternately  those  of  serious  impetuosity  and  play- 
fulness. 

Presently,  from  the  south,  comes  running  the  Spirit  of 
the  Intervale.  She  is  clad  in  pale  gold,  the  color  of  grain; 
her  garments  are  embroidered  with  wheat,  her  hair  wreathed 
with  berries  or  grapes.  She  carries  a  branch  of  fruit.  At 
times  she  is  almost  still,  swaying  back  and  forth;  again  she 
dances  back  and  forth  between  the  Spirit  of  the  Mountains 
and  the  Spirit  of  the  River.  Her  stillness  itself  is  almost 
vibrant;  her  movements  are  rich,  opulent,  votive,  with  a  sug- 
gestion of  maternal  womanliness. 

In  the  midst  of  their  dance,  a  few  Indians  come  among 
them — braves,  squaws,  and  children.  The  Indians  dance  in 
and  out  among  the  Nature  Spirits  with  no  conflict  or  inter- 
ference. The  Indian  did  not  interfere  with  Nature.  The 
dance  of  the  Indians  typifies  their  daily   activities,  the  braves 


going  forth  to  hunt  or  to  fight  and  returning  again  to  their 
squaws  and  children,  who  have  been  about  the  domestic  activ- 
ities. 

As  they  dance,  there  approaches  from  the  woods  along 
the  riverside,  a  White  Man,  dressed  in  Puritan  garb.  He  is 
quiet  and  self-reliant  in  manner.  He  stands  for  a  moment 
watching  the  Spirit  of  the  River  dancing  to  and  fro  among 
the  other  Nature  Spirits.  His  eyes  are  shaded  by  his  hand. 
The  Spirit  of  the  River  sees  him  and  points  to  him,  calling 
the  attention  of  the  others  to  him.  All  stand  motionless  gaz- 
ing at  each  other.  Then  he  withdraws  into  the  woods,  and 
after  a  brief,  puzzled  hesitation,  the  Nature  Spirits  and  the 
Indians  resume  their  dance.  It  continues  for  a  few  moments, 
then  all  depart  in  the  directions  from  which  they  came;  first 
the  Indian  squaws  and  children,  next  the  Indian  braves,  then 
the  Spirit  of  the  Intervale  and  the  Spirit  of  the  River,  and 
finally  the  Spirit  of  the  Mountains,  slowly  and  impressively. 


10 


Cpisiobe  I. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE    FIRST   SETTLER, 
"OLD  QUAIL  JOHN." 

From  up-stream  come  a  good  number  of  Indians  in  their 
canoes — braves,  squaws,  children,  and  babies  carried  by  the 
squaws.  As  the  canoes  approach  the  grounds,  they  swing 
around  toward  the  shore,  where  the  Indians  beach  them.  All 
come  ashore,  where  the  squaws  hang  the  babies  up  on  the 
trees  and  begin  to  gather  berries  and  fruit  and  to  play  with  the 
older  children,  while  the  braves  with  their  bows  and  arrows  go 
off  in  pursuit  of  game  into  the  grove.  Gradually  they  draw 
farther  away  until  they  are  hidden  from  the  river  and  from 
most  of  the  stage  and  are  visible  to  the  audience  only  through 
the  trees. 

From  far  down  the  river  comes  John  Chamberlain,  rowing 
a  boat  laden  with  his  goods.  He  stops  now  and  then  as  he 
comes,  looking  at  the  shore  on  either  side  as  if  considering 
making  a  landing,  but  rows  on.  When  he  arrives  at  the 
grounds,  he  looks  again,  more  carefully;  then  turns  his  boat 
abruptly  toward  the  shore  and  beaches  it.  He  drags  it  up  on 
the  land,  comes  up  on  to  the  bank  and  looks  about,  cautiously 
at  first  and  then  more  freely.      He  evidently  likes  the  place. 

In  looking  about  he  does  not  see  the  Indian  women 
among  the  trees  nor  the  Indian  canoes  beached  around  the 
point.  He  goes  back  and  unloads  his  boat,  bringing  the  stuff 
up  on  to  the  bank  in  two  trips,  and  piling  it  up  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  stage.  When  his  goods  are  all  up,  he  pulls  his  boat 
out  of  the  water.  Among  his  things  he  has  several  bunches 
of  quail,  unplucked  and  tied  together  by  the  feet.  He  builds 
a  fire, — a  small  one — near  the  goods,  and  proceeds  to  cook  a 
pair  of  his  quail,  evidently  relishing  his  feast,  and  getting 
absorbed  in  his  cooking.  His  gun,  however,  rests  between 
his  knees  as  he  sits  on  a  box,  his  back  half  turned  to  the 
Indians  in  the  distance,  who  have  not  yet  seen  him. 

// 


The  Indian  squaws  and  children  start  to  return  to  their 
canoes,  and  in  approaching  see  the  stranger.  Their  conster- 
nation is  followed  by  stealth.  The  two  squaws  who  have  left 
their  babies  hanging  on  trees  creep  up  noiselessly  to  get  them. 
Some  go  to  call  the  braves,  who  presently  emerge  from  among 
the  bushes  and  trees,  and  steal  up  behind  Chamberlain.  One 
is  about  to  spring  upon  him  with  uplifted  tomahawk,  when  he 
hears  a  sound  ;md  swings  his  gun  around  upon  the  brave  v/ith- 
out  rising,  then  makes  a  bound  out  into  the  open.  He  covers 
all  the  Indians  with  a  sweep  of  his  gun  and  they  stand  motion- 
less. One  starts  to  withdraw  into  the  bushes  but  Chamberlain 
immediately  aims  at  him. 

Chamberlain  then  makes  the  sign  of  peace  and  friendliness 
to  the  Indians  (the  hands  held  high  and  then  extended.)  He 
calmly  interrupts  proceedings  to  give  attention  to  his  quail, 
which  need  turning.  The  Indians  are  about  to  take  advantage 
of  this,  but  he  at  once  has  them  covered  again.  They  reply 
with  signs  that  they  will  parley  and  he  motions  them  to  sit 
down  with  him.  They  do  so,  arranging  themiselves  in  a  circle 
according  to  their  custom,  but  he  will  not  allow  this,  as  he 
wishes  to  stay  by  the  fire  and  does  not  want  any  one  back  of 
him.  He  motions  them  to  sit  in  front  of  him  in  a  half-circle 
and  they  obey. 

When  all  are  seated,  Chamberlain  asks  them  by  signs 
which  they  want,  his  friendship  or  his  enmity.  He  rummages 
in  his  goods  and  brings  out  a  long  pipe.  He  holds  out  first 
the  p'pe  and  then  the  gun  toward  them,  the  pipe  having  the 
mouthpiece  toward  them  and  the  gun  having  the  muzzle 
pointtrd  toward  them.  Finally  they  grunt  and  nod  assent,  as 
he  holds  the  pipe  high  above  his  head  and  makes  an  inquiring 
exclamation.  They  express  their  assent  also  by  rising  and 
then  sitting  down  again.  Chamberlain  then  squats  before  the 
fire,  dives  into  his  pack  and  brings  out  some  tobacco.  He 
starts  to  fill  the  pipe  but  the  quail  need  attention,  so  he  drops 
the  pipe  and  tobacco  and  turns  the  quail;  always,  however, 
keeping  his  gun  between  his  knees.  He  lights  the  pipe  with 
a  coal,  smokes  himself  and  then  the  pipe  is  passed  around  in 
accordance  with  the  Indian  custom. 

All  arise.  The  Indians  give  Chamberlain  some  trinkets 
and  presents  which  he  accepts.  He  then  gives  to  the  chiefs, 
who  have  made  him  the  presents,  some  of  his  quail.  They 
devour  ii  v.ith  surprise  and  gusto.      Chamberlain  eats  his  with 


12 


the  relish  of  an   epicure,  evidently  reserving  for  himself  the 
best  portions.* 

The  Indian  chiefs  then  sign  to  him  that  he  may  live  on 
this  side  of  the  river  but  must  not  cross  to  the  other  side, 
where  they  live.  He  assents.  Then  they  offer  to  show  him  a 
good  location  for  his  cabin.  He  agrees  and  motions  to  them 
to  carry  his  stuff.  They  haughtily  refuse,  but  as  he  becomes 
manifesdy  indignant  at  their  refusal  they  call  their  squaws  to 
come  and  carry  his  goods  away.  They  then  move  away,  the 
squaws  first,  then  the  braves,  and  finally  "Old  Quail  John" 
follows,  carrying  his  gun  in  one  hand  and  in  the  other  his 
long  pipe  and  his  bunch  of  quail. 


*  John  Chamberlain,  the  first  settler  of  Thetford,  is  described  as 
follows  in  a  bit  of  doggerel  which  is  a  part  of  the  town's  traditions. 
It  was  written  by  one  of  his  contemporaries: 
Old  Quail  John 
Was  the  first  to  come  on. 

As  poor  as  a  calf  in  the  spring; 
But  now  he's  as  rich 
As  Governor  Fitch 

And  lives  like  a  lord  or  a  king. 

^3 


€pi&ott  2. 


RICHARD  \VALLACE  AND    BURGOYNE'S 
INVASION. 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THETFORD  CENTER  AND 
NORTH  THETFORD.) 

[Enter  from  the  northwest  entrance  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  with  four  other 
members  of  the  Committee  and  other  people  of 
Thetford,  leading  eight  Tory  brothers.  The 
Chairman  stops  and  the  Tories  are  brought  be- 
fore him. 

CHAIRMAN 
By  vote  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  approved  by  the  people 
of  Thetford  in  town  meeting,  you  are  expelled  from  this  town, 
your  property  is  confiscated  to  the  general  use,  and  you  are 
each  and  all  of  you  forbidden  under  pain  of  death  to  return  to 
this  town.  Whereto  pay  heed  and  take  due  warning.  Auc- 
tioneer, sell  the  property  of  these  eight  Tory  brothers  forth- 
with, and  pay  the  proceeds  into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Town  of  Thetford. 

AUCTIONEER 
What  am  I  bid?     By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety!     Cul- 
tivated land,  cleared   land,  woodlots,  and  personal   property! 
Who'll  take  half?     Who'll  take  quarter? 

BIDDERS 

I!     I!     I! 

AUCTIONEER 
What  am  I  bid? 
(First  Bidder  and  Others  run  the  bids  up  to  ^6  7s  gd. ) 

AUCTIONEER 
Going,  going,  gone!     Sold   for  ^6  7s  9d  each  to  these  four 
men  right  here. 

A  TORY 
You  shall  hear  later  from  us  I     This  is  robbery!     We  will  take 

H 


sides  with  the   King!     (Shouts  and   uproar)     We  will  goto 
General  Burgoyne. 

[General  uproar  as  they  are  roughly  hustled  off. 

THETFORD  PEOPLE 
To  Canada !     Go  to  Burgoyne !     Tories !     Tories ! 

[Enter  four  Green  Mountain  Boys  holding  three 
British  soldiers  prisoner.  They  come  up  before 
the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

CHAIRMAN 
Ha!     Who  are  these? 

GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOY 
Spies,  taken  in  the  hills  over  by  Strafford. 

CHAIRMAN 
Search  them. 

[The  British  scouts  are  searched.  They  put  up 
some  resistance,  which  only  makes  the  Patriots 
rougher  and  more  thorough  in  their  search. 
Letters,  written  on  thin  paper  and  folded  small, 
are  found  in  the  boot  of  one,  in  the  shirt  of 
another,  in  the  coat-cuff  of  a  third.  They  are 
handed  to  the  Chairman.  He  looks  at  them 
and  holds  up  his  hand  for  attention. 

CHAIRMAN  (reading) 
"To  the  Captain  of  the  14th  Company  of  the  Royal  Foot- 
guards.  On  receipt  of  these  orders  you  will  immediately  lead 
your  command  out  from  their  appointed  hiding-place  by 
forced  marches  and  attack  the  settlement  at  Newbury  on  the 
Connecticut  River  and  burn  it  to  the  ground.  You  will  also 
sieze  and  burn  all  other  settlements  that  you  may  find.  You 
will  carry  these  orders  into  effect  the  night  of  the  day  you  re- 
ceive these  orders,  which  are  sent  in  duplicate,  lest  the  de- 
spatches fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Yankees.  (Signed)  Very 
respectfully  your  obedient  and  humble  servant,  John  Bur- 
goyne, Major  General."  The  others  are  similar,  giving 
orders  for  night  attacks  upon  Charlestown  and  Royalton. 
Guard  these  prisoners  well.      Send  out  the  alarm. 

[Two  or  three  men  jump  upon  horses  and  ride 
out  in  different  directions. 

RIDERS 
To  the  ferry !     To  the  ferry  !     The  British  are  here ! 

15 


A  MEMBER  OF  THE  COM- 
MITTEE OF  SAFETY 

I  fear  those  eight  Tory  brethren  knew  of  this;  that  made  them 
so  bold  in  defying'  us  and  threatening  us  with  vengeance. 

CHAIRMAN 
Never  fear,  neighbor!     It  is  the  worse  for  them. 

[From  the  two  western  entrances  come  streams 
of  people,  hurried  and  in  great  confusion;  men, 
women,  and  children,  on  horses,  oxen,  and  on 
foot.  They  have  household  goods  of  all  kinds 
on  wagons,  sledges,  packed  on  horses,  on  their 
shoulders,  and  in  their  arms.  Animals  are 
driven  along — cattle,  horses,  sheep,  and  pigs. 
The  long  line  crosses  to  the  river  bank,  where 
a  large  flat-bottomed  boat  is  loaded  with  the 
first  arrivals.  The  shouts  of  the  men  driving 
the  animals  and  calling  to  each  other,  and  the 
noises  of  the  animals,  cause  great  confusion. 
From  the  southeast  entrance  comes  Richard 
Wallace,  on  horseback,  riding  at  a  gallop. 

RICHARD  WALLACE 

The  British  are  coming ! 

CHAIRMAN  AND  MEMBERS 
OF  THE  COMMITTEE 

Ay,  we  know  it !     To  the  ferry !     The  countryside  is  in  flight. 
RICHARD  WALLACE 

Where  is  my  wife?  Who  has  seen  my  wife?  Does  no  one 
know  anything  of  her?  (To  several)  Have  you  seen  my 
wife? 

[During  the  flight  a  woman  has  been  seen  carry- 
ing heavy  packages  to  the  knoll  at  the  right. 
She  has  made  two  trips  and  now  sits  down  on 
her  pile  of  goods  and  watches  the  crowd  go  by. 
In  the  pile  of  goods  is  a  scythe,  among  other 
implements.  As  Richard  Wallace  advances  on 
foot,  leading  his  horse  and  looking  for  his  wife, 
he  sees  the  woman  and  runs  to  her  with  a  cry  of 
joy.  She  rises  and  throws  her  arms  about  his 
neck. 

i6 


RICHARD  WALLACE 
Why  are  you  here?     Why  did  you  not  fly  with  the  rest? 
MRS.  WALLACE 

I  had  no  way  to  carry  our  things  to  a  place  of  safety ;  you  had 
the  horse  down  at  Charlestown.  We  worked  so  hard  to  get 
and  to  save  what  we  have !  So  I  decided  to  stick  by  the 
stuff*  and  see  if  there  is  cause  for  all  this  trepidation  and 
flight. 

RICHARD  WALLACE 
My  wife !     My  wife !     Thank  God  you  are  safe ! 

MRS.  WALLACE 
Now  that  you   have  come,  we  can   take  the  stuff  across  the 
river. 

[Together  they  pack  the  goods  on  Wallace's 
horse  and  start  to  join  the  stream  of  people 
going  toward  the  river,  Mrs.  Wallace  on  the 
horse. 

Enter,  gliding  out  of  the  pine-woods  or  bushes 
near  by,  an  Indian,  "Captain  John."  He  is 
tall  and  erect;  fierce  and  cruel,  but  direct  in 
manner.  He  threads  his  way  among  the  peo- 
ple, expressing  his  contempt  with  grunts,  and 
going  up  to  the  Chairman  engages  him  in  con- 
versation. The  Chairman  by  his  manner  and 
gestures  shows  consternation.  He  steps  for- 
ward, grasping  the  Indian  by  the  wrist,  and 
stretches  out  his  hand  in  command. 

CHAIRMAN 
Hold !     Hold ! 

OTHERS 
Hold !     Stop ! 

[All  the  people  stop  and  turn  back.  The  flat 
boat  is  rowed  back  to  land.  All  gather  to  hear 
what  the  Chairman  has  to  say. 

CHAIRMAN 
(Captain  John  grunting  his  confirmation  at  intervals.)     There 
are  no  British  near.      Captain  John  has  just  been  all  along  the 
mountain  from  Ox-Bow  at  Newbury  to  Royalton.     There  was 
*  Her  actual  words  as  cited  in  the  old  records. 

17 


not  a  sign  of  the  British.  Before  that  he  has  just  come  from 
an  attack  on  Burgoyne's  army — (here  Captain  John  lets  out 
a  blood-curdhng  war  cry,  holding  over  his  head  some  fresh 
scalps  and  showing  his  bloody  tomahawk  with  fierce  delight) 
— and  no  parties  have  left  the  army  for  a  long  time. 

SEVERAL  MEN 
(Siezing  a  rope  and  rushing  at  the  three   British  prisoners.) 
Is  it  true?     Is  it  true?     (They  put  the  rope  around  the  neck 
of  one  and  start  to  drag  him  to  a  tree. ) 

A  BRITISH  SOLDIER 
Save  my  life  !     Yes,  it  is  true;  it  is  true. 

SEVERAL  MEN 
Hang  them  !     Spies  !     Hang  them  ! 

RICHARD  WALLACE 
(Running   in   and    rescuing   the    British   soldier.)     No,    my 
friends!     It  is  a  trick  of  Burgoyne's  to  keep  us  from  joining 
the   men  under  Schuyler  and   Stark  that  are  opposing  him. 
To  arms  !     Over  the  mountains  to  fight  Burgoyne ! 

ALL 
To  arms  !     Over  the  mountains  !     To  arms  ! 
CHAIRMAN 

A  fife  !     A  drum  ! 

[A  fifer  and  a  drummer  come  forward  and  begin 
to  play  Yankee  Doodle. 

RICHARD  WALLACE 
(to  his  wife) 
Now  the  oats  will   not  be  reaped,  and   the  corn  will  not  be 
hoed;  and  you — my  wife — 

MRS.  WALLACE 
Yes,   they  will.     All  will  be  well.     You  must  go  and  fight. 
But  do  not  fear;  I  am  your  mate.* 

*  During  her  husband's  absence,  Mrs.  Richard  Wallace  took 
entire  charge  of  the  farm,  ploughing,  reaping,  and  harvesting  the 
crops. 

[She  gets  off  the  horse,  throws  her  arms  about 
him  and  kisses  him.  She  then  picks  up  the 
scythe  and  puts  it  over  her  shoulder,  takes  the 
horse  by  the  bridle,  and  starts  away.     As  she 

i8 


turns  to  go,  Richard  Wallace  holds  her  back  a 
moment  and  kisses  her  again;  then  he  takes  his 
place  in  the  forming  line.  The  fife  and  drum 
are  still  playing.  The  Chairman  takes  com- 
mand of  the  line  of  men.     All  are  armed. 

CHAIRMAN 
Lead  the  prisoners  on  before.  Attention  !  Forward  march  ! 
[The  fife  and  drum  leading,  the  little  procession 
starts.  First  come  the  Green  Mountain  Boys 
with  their  three  British  prisoners,  then  the  min- 
ute-men. They  disappear  into  the  ravine,  the 
fife  and  drum  still  playing.  The  women  and 
others,  waving  and  cheering,  go  slowly  toward 
their  homes. 


'9 


€pis(obe  3. 

THE    BUILDING    OF    THE    CHURCH    ON    THET- 
FORD  HILL,  AND  THE  MUSICAL  SOCIETY 
OF  THETFORD  AND  LYME. 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF   EAST  THETFORD  AND  THETFORD   CEN- 
TER, WITH  A  FEW  PEOPLE  FROM  LYME.) 

[Enter  from  the  northeast  the  Reverend  Asa  Bur- 
ton* and  a  group  of  people  from  the  settlement 
on  the  Connecticut  River.  At  the  same  time 
enter  from  the  northwest  entrance  a  group  of 
people  from  the  settlement  on  the  Ompompa- 
noosuc  River. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Here  come  our  brethren  from  the  Oinpompanoosuc  Valley. 

[The  Connecticut  people  stand  awaiting  the  Om- 
pompanoosuc  people,  as  they  come  down  the 
hill.      Dr.  Burton  stands  between  the  two  groups. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Greeting  and  peace  in  the  name   of  the   Lord,  my  beloved 
people ! 

[Both  sides  bow  low  to  each  other.  The  Om- 
pompanoosuc  people  bow  first  to  Dr.  Burton 
and  then  rather  more  stiffly  to  the  Connecticut 
people. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Brethren,  we  have  gathered  here  to  meet  those  whom  the 
County  Court  has  appointed  from  the  neighboring  towns,  at 
our  request,  to  decide  for  us  where  we  shall  build  us  a  Meet- 
ing House,  that  the  Lord  may  have  an  habitation  among  us. 
I  adjure  you,  as  you  stand  now  in  the  presence  of  God,  to 
consider  this  matter  solely  as  in  Hi.s  sight,  to  obey  His  will. 
Let  us  now  before  these  arbitrators  decide  this  thing  for  our- 
selves.     What  say  you? 

*  The  Rev.  Asa  Burton  was  the  minister  of  the  town   for  over 
fifty  J^ears — an  iron  ruler  and  a  loved  friend. 

20 


ONE  OF  THE  OMPOMPA- 

NOOSUC  PEOPLE 
Dr.  Burton,  you  have  spoken,  as  always,  what  is  right.  The 
people  in  our  valley  are  more  numerous  grown.  The  voice 
of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God.  We  will  leave  it  to  the 
majority  voie,  as  is  the  sanctified  custom  in  Congregational 
churches.      It  is  the  will  of  God. 

ONE  OF  THE  CONNECTICUT 
PEOPLE 

Nay,  these  new-comers  are  obstinate  in  their  hearts  and 
changeful  in  their  ways.  Wherefore  the  Lord  hath  put  it  in 
our  hearts  to  correct  them.  God  placed  his  house  from  the 
first  settling  of  the  town  to  the  east,  and  confirmed  his  choice 
by  blessing  the  preaching  and  ministry  there.  Will  God 
change?  Did  the  Lord  not  have  his  purposes  in  mind  for  all 
time? 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 

Brethren,  a  house  divided  against  itself — 

[Both  sides  draw  back  jealously  from  each  other. 
Enter  on  horseback  the  Reverend  Peter  Powers, 
of  Newbury,  and  four  other  ministers. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Here  come  our  godly  advisers  and  arbitrators. 

[All  turn  and  bow  exceeding  low  as  the  five  min- 
isters ride  up.  They  dismount  and  bow  in  turn. 
They  advance  a  few  steps,  their  horses  held  to- 
gether behind  them. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
We  welcome  your  coming  to   us  and  we  will  abide  by  your 
decision. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 

Do  you  on  both  sides  of  this  dispute  submit  yourselves  volun- 
tarily to  this  arbitration ! 

ALL  THE  PEOPLE 
We  do.     We  do. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
Have  either  of  you  anything  further  to  add  to  what  has  already 
been  declared  to  us  about  this   matter?     (To  the  Connecticut 
group)     What  say  you? 

21 


ONE  OF  THE  CONNECTICUT 

PEOPLE 
We  have  nothing  further  to  say,  and  we  are  ready  to  accept 
your  just  decision  as  the  will  of  God.  There  in  our  valley  the 
first  church  was  built,  and  there  it  prospered  under  God's 
blessing.  There  the  church  should  remain.  Shall  the  wicked 
say.  Behold,  the  church  was  here  but  it  has  vanished  away? 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
(To  Ompompanoosuc  group.)     What  say  you? 

ONE  OF  THE  OMPOMPA- 
NOOSUC PEOPLE 
We  will  add  nothing.  The  will  of  God  is  clearly  set  before 
your  eyes.  The  church  is  for  the  nurture  and  edification  of 
the  people.  The  people  in  our  valley  far  exceed  in  number 
those  in  the  old  valley.  The  House  of  God,  the  Ark  of  the 
Covenant,  should  move  forward  with  the  people. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
Dr.  Burton,  what  have  you  to  say  on  either  side? 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
The  Evil  One,  the  Prince  of  Darkness  and  Dissension,  has 
stirred  up  between  them  this  jealousy  and  controversy,  but 
God  hath  yet  put  it  into  their  hearts  to  submit  to  your  arbi- 
tration. Both  sides  have  stated  their  claims  truly  and  with- 
out falsehood. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
We  will  withdraw  to  consider  our  decision.      (The  arbitrators 
withdraw   up   the   slope,   their   horses   being   led   after  them. 
They  are  seen  to  bow  their  heads  for  a  moment  in  prayer  and 
then  to  discuss  the  question. ) 

[Enter  from  the  southeast  the  people  from  Lyme, 
coming  with  hymn  books  in  their  hands. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Here  are  our  friends   from  Lyme  for  our  monthly  singing. 
Let  us  all  unite  in  praising  the  Lord,  according  to   the  estab- 
lished laws  of  Nature  and  of  God's  holy  word,  quickening  and 
enlivening  our  cold  affections  by  the  art  of  vocal  music. 

[Dr.  Burton   takes  out  a  pitch-pipe;  all  gather 
eagerly  together,  forgetting  their  quarrels  and 

22 


dissensions  in  their  love  for  music.      Dr.  Burton 
gives  the  pitch. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
We  will  sing  'Invitation.' 

[All  sing  the  old  hymn. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
That  was  indeed  the  performance  of  people  having  a  tolerable 
skill  in  the  art  of  music,  and  a  contribution  to  the  proper  wor- 
ship of  God.  (All  bow  and  are  evidently  much  pleased  with 
his  praise.)  When  I  was  first  ordained  to  you,  you  were 
scarcely  able  to  sing  on  the  Sabbath,  and  as  I  had  always 
loved  sacred  music  and  made  a  study  of  it,  I  could  not  with 
comfort  endure  your  singing.  * 

ONE  OF  THE  CONNECTICUT 

PEOPLE 
I  would  move  you  that  if  any  member  of  the  Musical  Society 
shall  make  any  new  discovery  in  the  art  of  music,  he  shall 
make  the  same  known  to  the  society  in  one  of  their  meetings, 
and  if  any  obtain  knowledge  of  any  new  hymn  tune  or  anthem 
they  shall  present  the  same  to  the  society.  § 

ONE  OF  THE  OMPOMPA- 
NOOSUC  PEOPLE 

It  has  been  rumored  that  some  one  of  the  members  has  cove- 
tously been  keeping  to  himself  such  choice  treasure;  I  second 
the  motion. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Are  there  any   remarks?     Are   you  ready  for  the   question? 
Those  in  favor  will  signify  their  vote  by  saying  Aye  and  by 
raising  their  right  hand. 

ALL 

Aye !     Aye ! 

ONE  OF  THE  LYME  PEOPLE 
There  are  some  of  the  uncivilized  in   Lyme  who  have  sought 
to   discourage   the   people  from  joining  this  Society  and  to 
decry  the  art  of  music;  and  we  have  heard  that  there  are  such 

*  From  Dr.  Asa  Burton's  diary. 

?.  From  the  original  constitution  and    by-laws  of    the  Musical 
Society  of  Thetford  and  Lyme. 

23 


also  in  Thetford,  and  that  they  have  even,  for  their  nefarious 
and  unrefined  purpose,  sought  to  become  members  of  the 
Society.  Therefore  I  move  you  that  when  any  ofler  them- 
selves to  join  this  Socieiy,  they  shall  be  examined  with  respect 
to  their  end  and  design  in  joining  it,  and  if  it  shall  appear  up- 
on their  examination  that  their  design  is  to  get  an  occasion  to 
ridicule  or  in  any  way  to  thwart  the  end  of  the  Society,  and 
not  to  promote  it,  they  shall  be  rejected.  * 

SEVERAL 

(Coming  closer  and  speaking  with  feeling.)  I  second  it! 
Yes!     Yes! 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
This  is  a  just  and  proper  motion.     Those  who  are  in  favor — 

ALL 
(With  emphasis  and  unanimity)     Aye! 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
For  the  next  meeting,  to  be  held  in  Lyme,  we  will  all  learn 
Walpole.     The  arbitrators  are  about  to  return.      Let  us  now 
sing  Bridgewater. 

[All  sing  Bridgewater,  making  it  unusually  dole- 
ful, some  occasionally  looking  back  to  see  if  the 
arbitrators  are  coming.  As  the  hymn  draws  to 
a  close,  the  arbitrators  return.  The  Thetford 
people  draw  apart  from  each  other  with  return- 
ing stiffness  and  hostility. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
We  have  earnestly  and  solemnly  considered  the  question  sub- 
mitted to  us.  We  deplore  the  obstinacy  of  heart  of  the  peo- 
ple (each  group  looks  scornfully  at  the  other)  but  we  have 
felt  that  we  were  limited  in  our  decision,  for  we  have  not 
wholly  trusted  the  obedient  spirit  of  the  people  of  Thetford  in 
this  matter  of  the  location  of  their  church.  (Various  feelings 
exhibited  at  this — some  repentant, [some  indignant.)  Where- 
fore we  have  decided  that  the  church  and  meeting  house  of 
the  town  of  Thetford  shall  be  erected  and  built  here  on  the 
hill  half  way  between  the  two  settlements,  and  we  call  upon 
you  all  of  both  sides  obediently  to  carry  out  this  decision. 
(Amazement  and  consternation.) 

*  From  the  minutes  of  the  Society. 

24 


SEVERAL  ON  BOTH  SIDES 
It  is  God's  will. 

ONE  OF  THE  OMPOMPA- 

NOOSUC  PEOPLE 
Let  us  drive  the  first  stakes  here  and  now. 

ONE  OF  THE  CONNECTICUT 
PEOPLE 
Here  is  an  axe.     Let  us  drive    it  together. 

[The  two  cut  a  stake  and  drive  it  into  the  ground, 
one  holding  it  and  the  other  using  the  axe. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
(Standing  over  the  two  men)     God  bless  this  beginning  and 
give  fruit  unto  His  word  here  in  this  place  through  my  minis- 
try and  the  ministry  of  all  who  shall  follow  me  forever. 

ALL 
Amen! 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Further,  I  will  bear  an  equal  portion  of  the  expense.  I  will 
build  the  pulpit  and  the  pew  by  the  staircase,  and  I  will  give 
beside  5000  feet  of  pine  boards.  So  may  we  always  bring  our 
troubles  and  disputes  to  each  other  and  submit  them  to  rea- 
son, and  so  may  God  always  bless  the  result  to  us. 

[Exclamations  of  gratification  and  enthusiasm. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 

Likewise,  in  order  that  I  may  not  seem  to  belong  to  one  set- 
tlement more  than  to  the  other,  I  will  remove  and  build  me 
an  house  here  on  the  hill  near  the  meeting-house. 

REVEREND  PETER  POWERS 
So,  already,  has    God  blessed  you  and  brought  fi-uit  to  our 
arbitrations. 

[All  get  up  on  their  horses. 

REVEREND  ASA  BURTON 
Let  us  all  appropriately  sing  New  Jerusalem  as  we  depart  our 
several  ways. 

[All  sing  New  Jerusalem.  With  the  second  verse 
they  begin  to  leave,  in  the  various  directions 
from  which  they  came. 

25 


INTERLUDE  I. 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  HOME. 

FROM  the  pine  grove  at  the  south  a  group  of  white  men 
emerges.  They  are  the  Puritan  who  appeared  in  the  In- 
troduction, a  Ranger,  a  Revolutionary  minute-man,  and  a  far- 
mer. A  Httle  back  in  the  edge  of  the  pines  is  a  group  of  women 
and  a  few  children.  The  Puritan  advances  and  beckons  toward 
the  east.  Over  the  river  bank  comes  the  Spirit  of  the  River, 
followed  by  other  River  Spirits,  some  very  young  and  slender. 
Half-reluctant,  she  obeys  the  call  of  the  White  Man,  though 
her  followers  have  a  tendency  to  float  away  to  the  south. 
Leading  the  group  of  white  men  toward  the  north,  the  Spirit 
of  the  River  moves  away;  when  from  the  west  comes  the 
Spirit  of  the  Mountain,  accompanied  by  other  Mountain 
Spirits.  At  the  same  moment  the  Spirit  of  the  Intervale  ap- 
pears, with  other  Meadow  Spirits  some  of  whom  are  very 
small.  The  Spirit  of  the  Intervale  comes  at  the  call  of  the 
White  Man,  but  she  does  not  come  gladly.  It  is  accepted 
duty,  not  joy,  which  she  expresses.  The  Meadow  Spirits 
bend  low  before  the  white  men  and  remain  so,  until  the  Puri- 
tan takes  the  Spirit  of  the  Intervale  by  the  hand  and  points 
toward  the  group  of  women  standing  among  the  pines. 

From  among  the  group  of  women,  who  stand  aside  to  let 
her  pass,  comes  the  Spirit  of  the  Home.  She  comes  forward 
with  a  movement  that  is  direct,  beautiful,  and  inexpressibly 
winning,  sweeping  toward  the  Spirit  of  the  Intervale  and  lifting 
her  up  with  an  embrace.  The  Meadow  Spirits  yield  gladly. 
In  turn  the  Spirit  of  the  Home  makes  her  sweet  advances  to 
the  Spirit  of  the  Mountain,  who  responds  more  reservedly. 

Surrounded  then  by  the  Nature  Spirits,  the  Spirit  of  the 
Home  dances  alone.  Her  dance  is  one  of  motherhood,  of 
tenderness  and  understanding.  As  she  ceases,  the  Nature 
Spirits,  reaching  radiant  arms  to  her,  withdraw  in  various  di- 
rections. Slowly  the  group  of  white  men  and  women  retire, 
and  last  of  all,  the  Spirit  of  the  Home  withdraws  slowly  into 
the  pines. 


26 


Cpi^obe  4. 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  THETFORD  ACADEMY- 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THETFORD  HILL.) 
[CHORUS] 

ODE  TO  THETFORD. 

(WRITTEN  BY  MRS.  SADIE  WILSON,  OF  POST  MILLS.) 

In  a  liltle  humble  corner 

Of  our  own  Green  Mountain  state, 
Lies  the  Httle  town  of  Thetford 

Loved  by  all,  both  small  and  great. 
Thetford,  with  her  peaceful  valle)'S, 

Thetford,  with  her  grand  old  hills; 
And  her  trees,  her  rocks,  her  rivers, 

And  her  little  sparkling  rills. 
Her  green  fields  and  wildwoods, 

Verdant  meadows,  flow' rets  rare, 
Hold  the  love  of  all  her  children 

Though  they're  scattered  everywhere. 
Refrain : 

Then  all  hail  to  thee,  fair  Thetford, 

May  thy  virtues  shine  afar. 
May  thy  name  be  held  e'er  sacred 

As  a  never-setting  star. 

All  her  sons  are  bold  and  hardy 

Like  the  oaks  on  green  hillsides, 
Inured  to  snow  and  tempest 

They  faint  not,  whate'er  betides. 
In  the  days  of  early  struggle 

They  toiled  on,  both  hard  and  late. 
For  the  sake  of  wives  and  children. 

For  the  honor  of  home  and  state. 
And  these  homes  of  Thetford 

Are  her  greatest  charms  today. 
And  to  keep  them  pure  and  holy 

Should  be  our  aim  alway. 
Refrain. 

27 


[Enter  from  the  northwest  entrance  Judge  Jede- 
diah  P.  Buckingham  and  Mrs.  Ann  Cook  Buck- 
ingham, as  the  stage  comes  into  sight  down  the 
vista  of  the  southwest  entrance.  They  wave 
their  handkerchiefs. 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 

Here  they  come !     Here  they  come ! 

[Enter  Judge  and  Mrs.  Beriah  Loomis,  and  Col- 
onel and  Mrs.  Lyman  Fitch. 

MRS.  BUCKINGHAM 
Here  they  come, — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard,  from  Windsor. 
We  must  have  tea  out  of  doors;  there  will  not  be  room  for  us 
all  in  the  house.  Lydia,  go  in  and  tell  Aunt  Jane  we  are 
going  to  have  our  tea  outdoors,  and  bring  it  right  out.  They 
will  be  tired  and  want  refreshment. 

[Lydia  has  appeared  at  the  entrance  when  called, 
and  now  retires  to  give  the  message.  The 
stage  drives  up  and  stops.  The  visitors  alight. 
Effusive  greetings  between  them  and  Judge  and 
Mrs.  Buckingham,  who  introduce  them  to  the 
others.  The  stage  drives  away  with  its  other 
passengers. 

JUDGE  HUBBARD 
(to  Judge  Buckingham.) 
And  how  is  my  young  friend  Simeon  Short? 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 
Do  you  know  him? 

JUDGE  HUBBARD 
Dear  me,  yes!     He  studied  law  in  my  ofifice.      I  prepared  him 
for  the  bar, 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 
He  is  a  great  acquisition  for  us.      He  has  been  here  but  three 
years   but   is  highly   esteemed.     A  very   promising  lawyer;  a 
credit  to  your  instruction.  Judge.      He  will  surely  be  put  upon 
the  bench  one  of  these  days. 

MRS.  HUBBARD 
Is  he  here? 

28 


JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 

Not  today.  He  has  t^one  to  take  the  donation  of  the  people 
of  Thetford  to  the  Kimball  Union  Academy  in  Meriden,  New 
Hampshire. 

JUDGE  HUBBARD 
Indeed!     How  much  was  the  donation,  may  I  ask? 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 

$40. 

JUDGE  HUBBARD 
$40?     Indeed  !     Indeed !     Thetford  is  truly  interested  in   the 
cause  of  education.     A  generous  gift ! 

COLONEL  FITCH 
Yes,  Simeon  Short  is  a  man  of  parts.      I  insist  he  is  a  man  of 
ideas.      He  should   be   back   today  some  time;  he  went  day 
before  yesterday.      I  insist  he  ought  to  be  back  today. 

[Enter  from  the  southeast  entrance  Mr.  Simeon 
Short,  on  horseback,  at  a  walk.  He  comes  up 
to  the  assembled  company,  graciously  uncover- 
ing himself  as  he  comes.  All  come  forward 
with  evident  pleasure. 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
Tea  out  of  doors? — Ah,  Judge   Hubbard,  and   Mrs.  Hubbard, 
you  have  come  up  from   Windsor! — No  wonder!     All  out- 
doors is  none  too  large  a  welcome  for  you. 

MRS.  BUCKINGHAM 
Will  you  not  alight  and  join  us,  Mr.  Short? 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
No,  no;  I  thank   you.      I  have  had  a  long,  dusty   ride.      I  am 
travel  stained. 

MRS.  BUCKINGHAM 
Let  me  give  you  a  cup  of  tea  in  the  saddle.      (She  goes  and 
pours  a  cup. ) 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
My  friends,  as  I  rode  along  through  the  woods  today  on  my 
way  home  from  Meriden,  I  thought,  "Why  not  have  an  acad- 
emy in  Thetford,  instead  of  sending  our  students  so  far  away 
to  one  in  another  state,  and  contributing  money  for  its  sup- 
port as  well?"  (A  pause.)  And  why  not?  Why  not, 
Judge  Buckingham? 

29 


JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 

Capital!  We  will  doit.  Gentinnen,  shall  we  not  take  the 
matter  up  at  once?  I  will  contribute  toward  its  institution 
and  support.     Where  is  a  paper?     Get  paper,  ink,  and  quills. 

COLONEL  FITCH 
Mr.  Short,  I  insist   that  you  are  a  man  of  ideas.      I  am  justi- 
fied  in  my  estimate  of  you,  sir.      I   congratulate  you,  sir.      I 
will  subscribe  lumber.      I  insist  upon  supplying  the  lumber  for 
the  building. 

[A  boy  comes  with  a  sheet  of  foolscap  paper,  an 
inkhorn,  and  quills.  A  place  is  made  on  the 
tea-table.  One  by  one  the  gentlemen  step  up 
and  write  down  their  subscriptions. 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 
(to  the  boy) 
Go  ask   Dr.  Burton  to  come.     There  he  is  now.     Go  and  ask 
Judge   Reed,  Mr.  Latham,  and   Mr.  Kendrick   to  come  over. 
(The  boy  goes  out. ) 

[Enter  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  Burton,  a  man  of  66  years; 
immediately  following  him  come  the  other  gen- 
tlemen named,  and  also  Amasa  Bond. 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 
Gendemen,  Mr.  Short  has  proposed   that  Thetford   have  an 
academy  of  her  own, instead  of  sending  her  young  people  and 
her  money  to  an  academy  in  New  Hampshire. 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
And  these  gentlemen   have  made  the  suggestion  their  own  so 
completely  and  so  quickly  that  I  did  not  have  a  chance  to  get 
off  my  horse  before  they   had  out  a  paper  and  had  put  down 
their  subscriptions. 

DR.  BURTON 
An  excellent  idea.     God's  blessing  prosper  it. 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
Colonel  Fitch  has  given  lumber. 

COLONEL  FITCH 
Yes,  I  insist  on  giving  the  lumber. 

AMASA  BOND 
I  will  give  some  lumber,  too. 

30 


COLONEL  FITCH 
No,  no;  I  insist  on  giving  the  lumber. 

AMASA  BOND 
Well,  I'll  just  put  down  my   name.      (He  goes  to  the  table, 
writes  his  name,  and  goes  out. ) 

DR.  BURTON 
It  must  be  a  general  subscription.  We  must  have  trustees  at 
once  to  provide  for  the  frugal  management  of  the  institution. 
We  shall  also  need  a  preceptor.  There  is  now  sojourning  in 
our  midst  a  young  minister  of  Danville;  he  is  learned,  a  grad- 
uate of  Brown  University,  industrious,  and  given  to  good 
ways.  He  is  by  the  grace  of  the  Lord  endowed  with  the 
right  qualities  of  a  teacher,  and  has  some  of  his  former  pupils 
here  with  him. 

MR.  LATHAM 
Let  us  send  for  him.     I  know  where  he  was  staying  only  yes- 
terday.     (He  goes  out.) 

[Enter  from  the  southeast  a  wagon  driven  by  a 
boy  of  about  fourteen  years.  Mr.  Simeon  Short 
has  gotten  down  from  his  horse  and  is  writing 
on  the  subscription  paper  with  the  others. 

DR.  BURTON 

(to  the  boy) 
Ah,  Justin,  how  are  things  in   Strafford?     And  how  are  your 
excellent  parents? 

JUSTIN  S.  MORRILL^!-- 
Very  well,  I  thank  you,  sir. 

DR.  BURTON 
What  brings  you  over  to  Thetford  today? 

JUSTIN  S.  MORRILL 
I  have  an  errand  to  Mr.  Short's,  sir. 

DR.  BURTON 
He  is  here.     He  is  busy  just  now.     He  will  see  you  in  a 
moment.     Justin,    here   is    something   you    ought    to   have. 
(Justin   looks  up   curiously,  but   respectfully. )     An   opportu- 

*  The  Hon.  Justin  S.  Morrill,  United  States  Senator  from  Ver- 
mont, was  one  of  the  earliest  pupils  at  Thetford  Academy,  although 
not,  as  here  represented,  among  its  first  pupils. 

3^ 


nity  for  an  education  not  far  from  your  own  home.  (Justin 
shows  his  interest  and  deUght,  and  moves  closer  to  Dr.  Bur- 
ton. )     We  are  going  to  have  an  Academy  here  in  Thetford. 

JUSTIN  S.  MORRILL 
Then  I  could  be  a  lawyer — like  Mr.  Short ! 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
(coming  up  to  them  from  the  table.) 
Yes,  you  can  be  a  lawyer  and  give  up  farming.      (Mr.  Short 
remounts  his  horse. ) 

JUSTIN  S.  MORRILL 
I  would  not  want  to  give  up  farming.      I  wish  farming  came 
into  an  education ! 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
Combine  education  and  agriculture !     That  is  a  new  idea ! 

DR.  BURTON 
Here  is  the  young  man  I  recommended  to  you  for  preceptor, 
the  Rev.  John  Fitch.     I  see  some  of  his  boys  are  with  him. 
[Enter  Rev.  John  Fitch  and  several  boys. 

DR.  BURTON 
Mr.  Fitch,  I  have  suggested  you   to  these  gentlemen  for  the 
Preceptor  of  a  new  Academy  that  we  are  starting  in  Thetford. 
Will  you  sojourn  among  us  until  we  have  completed  our  prep- 
arations and  can  make  our  election? 

REV.  JOHN  FITCH 
Right  gladly  will  I. 

JUDGE  BUCKINGHAM 

Who  is  this?     Amasa  Bond? 

[Enter  Amasa  Bond  driving  an  ox-team,  hauling 
a  great  log. 

AMASA  BOND 
There  is  the  first  log  for  the  new  Academy ! 

COLONEL  FITCH 
But  I  insist  that  I  will  give  the  lumber  for  the  Academy. 

AMASA  BOND 
Well,  Colonel,  I  insist  that  I  have  given  the  first  lumber;  my 
subscription  is  the  first  to  be  paid  up. 

32 


DR.  BURTON 
Amasa,  you  are  a  lesson  to  us  in  the  prompt  payment  of  our 
debts.  With  God's  blessing,  and  following  this  example  He 
has  given  us  at  home,  let  us  proceed  without  delay  to  raise 
the  rest  of  the  subscriptions  and  pay  them  at  once.  (Putting 
his  hand  on  the  log)     Here  is  the  beginning  of  our  Academy. 

MR.  SIMEON  SHORT 
Let  us  all  go  and  help  Amasa  unload  the  first  log  for  the 
Academy!  (Cheers.  Amasa  Bond  starts  up  his  team;  Mr. 
Short  rides  along  beside  the  log;  the  people  gaily  cluster 
round  the  log  as  it  is  hauled  away.  The  boy,  Justin  S.  Mor- 
rill brings  up  the  rear.  As  the  people  move  away,  the  chorus 
sings  the  Thetford  Academy  song.) 

FAIR  THETFORD. 

(WRITTEN  BY  EDITH  McDUFFEE,  '92) 

Fair  Thetford  !     Fair  hill  where  the  hills  circle  round, 

We  are  singing,  loved  Thetford,  of  thee, 
For  we  love  every  inch  of  thy  proud  classic  ground, 

'Tis  no  matter  where'er  we  may  be. 
Thy  mountains  are  blue,  in  thy  bright  sunset's  glow 

E'en  the  sunsets  of  Italy  pale. 
Thy  breezes  bring  courage  wherever  they  blow, 

Fair  Thetford,  loved  Thetford,  all  hail  ! 

To  stand  with  thy  sons  is  to  stand  with  the  strong, 

'Tis  to  mingle  with  those  of  true  worth  ; 
Oh,  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  are  scattered  afar, 

They  have  borne  thy  rich  gifts  through  the  earth. 
But,  home  in  our  hearts,  very  truly  we  know, 

Know  that  some  who  are  valiant  for  truth, 
Look  back  in  the  hour  of  their  proudest  success. 

To  the  lessons  thou  gavest  in  youth. 

We  care  not  what  others  may  think  or  may  do, 

Oh,  we  care  not  what  others  may  say. 
For  we  know  that  our  places  are  kept  for  us  there. 

Although  far  from  the  hilltops  we  stray. 
But  oft  e'er  we  wake  at  the  bird's  morning  call, 

We'll  be  dreaming,  old  Thetford,  of  thee. 
And  still  we  will  sing  when  the  night  shadows  fall, 

Fair  Thetford,  loved  Thetford,  for  me  ! 

33 


Cpisiobe  5. 

THE  COUNTRY  FAIR. 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF  UNION  VILLAGE) 

This  Episode  is  a  reproduction  of  a  country  fair  at  about 
the  period  1835. 

First  of  all,  the  exhibitors  of  live  stock  arrive.  They 
arrange  their  cattle,  horses,  sheep,  poultry,  etc.,  in  places  des- 
ignated by  the  Marshal  of  the  Fair.  Teams,  ox-carts,  and 
sheep  pens  are  driven  up  and  placed  in  position. 

Later  the  exhibitors  of  household  industries  make  their 
entrance.  The  women  enter  their  bread,  cakes,  maple  sugar 
cak^,  and  the  famous  Thetiord  cheese,  in  the  contest  for  prizes. 
One  woman  shows  her  skill  in  handling  the  distaff  and  fiax- 
wheel.  Others  exhibit  quilts  and  counterpanes,  crochet  work, 
homespun  garments,  and  other  needle  work. 

The  judges  of  live  stock  consult  together,  make  notes, 
enter  into  discussions,  and  finally  award  prizes.  It  was  the 
custom  to  have  one  man  and  one  woman  judge  of  the  superi- 
ority of  the  foods,  and  also  of  the  needle-work.  These  judges 
pass  irom  one  group  of  women  to  another,  inspecting  the 
exhibits  and  awarding  prizes.     A  fife  and  drum  play  at  intervals. 

Meanwhile  venders  of  all  sorts  have  made  their  appear- 
ance and  are  crying  their  wares.  The  gingerbread  man,  bear- 
ing large  cards  of  gingerbread,  is  very  much  in  evidence,  and 
generally  patronized.  Swains  present  their  country  lasses  with 
a  card  of  gingerbread,  and  small  boys  are  generous  purchasers. 
The  man  selling  suspenders  and  braces  is  also  doing  a  good 
business,  largely  on  account  of  his  cry,  which  amuses  the 
crowd.  ^-  A  man  selling  papers  of  pins,  shoe-strings,  and  the 
like,  also  has  a  cry  which  attracts  the  crowds.^'  A  boy  with  a 
keg  of  cider  on  the  back  of  his  cart  finds  a  large  demand  for 
his  cooling  drink.  Another  man  delights  the  hearts  of  the 
youngsters  by  the  jewsharps  he  has  for  sale.  Visitors  to  the 
Fair  are  coming  and  going;  there  is  much  noise  and  laughter. 
A  young  fellow  grotesquely  dressed  acts  as  a  clownish  coun- 
try gawk,  falling  over  ropes  and  boxes,  walking  behind  people 
and   imitating  them,    and    making  fun   generally.      A   patent 

34 


medicine  quack  stands  on  a  box  and  eloquently  shouts  forth 
the  miraculous  qualities  of  his  medicine. 

Games  have  also  been  going  on.  The  little  boys  indulge 
in  a  tug  of  war,  and  older  people  play  at  tossing  rings  at  the 
canes,  hammer-scales,  and  finally,  the  horse- drawing  contest. 
It  is  a  scene  of  happy  confusion  and  general  clamor.  At  last 
the  crowd  disperses,  fathers  carrying  tired  children  on  their 
shoulders,  and  mothers  holding  sleeping  babies  in  their  arms. 


*  From  the  reminiscences  of  Dr.  Wilson  Famsworth,  of  Thet- 
ford  Hill  : 

"The  music,  the  crowds  of  people,  and  especially  the  gingerbread 
stands,  interested  me  very  much,  but  above  all,  the  peddlers  crying 
their  various  wares.  I  remember  that  one,  in  selling  suspenders 
or  braces,  cried  out  again  and  again—  'Long  enough  for  any  man, 
short  enough  for  any  boy ;  and  they  will  stretch  like  an  old  woman's 
conscience.'  Another,  who  was  selling  a  paper  of  pins,  repeated 
some  doggerel  of  which  two  lines  cling  to  my  memory  after  more  than 
55  years,  viz : 

'To  give  each  fold  its  proper  place 
To  bind  the  slender  tapering  waist.'  " 

35 


€pi^oht  6. 

THE  COMING  OF  THE  RAILROAD.  * 

[Owing  to  the  fact  that  it  was  impossible  to  secure  the  old  Engine 
this  Episode  will  be  omitted.] 

A  drove  of  cattle  in  care  of  a  man  and  a  boy  come  down 
through  the  north-west  entrance,  going  across  the  grounds  to 
the  south-east.  At  the  same  time  from  the  latter  direction 
comes  a  man  driving  a  wagon-load  of  potatoes.  He  hails  the 
cattle-driver  and  asks  him  where  he  is  going.  Taking  his  beef 
dowm  to  Springfield,  he  replies;  he  then  goes  on  to  ask  what 
on  earth  his  neighbor  is  doing  with  so  many  potatoes;  he  can- 
not take  them  to  Boston,  and  he  surmises  the  man  himself  will 
never  eat  so  many.  Well,  he  is  going  to  send  the  potatoes  to 
Boston.  "A  pleasure  trip?  the  other  objects;  "it  will  never 
pay."  The  farmer  tells  him  that  he  is  going  to  send  his  pota- 
toes by  the  railroad;  he  has  a  large  crop  that  he  is  going  to 
send  to  Boston;  these  are  only  a  few  he  is  sending  to  a  brother 
in  Newbury  by  the  first  train  to  go  over  the  line.  Then  he 
asks  the  cattle-man  why  he  does  not  ship  his  beef  on  the  train. 
Well,  the  cattle- man  is  not  sure  that  the  railroad  will  be  as 
good  a  way  of  getting  his  cattle  to  market  as  driving  them 
down  himself  in  the  good  old  way;  he  will  wait  and  see;  may- 
be he  will  later.  Then  he  goes  on  and  follows  his  cattle  down 
the  road. 

A  number  of  people  come  in  from  all  entrances,  evidently 
some  of  them  come  from  long  distances.  One  says  he  has 
sent  an  order  for  some  grain  down  to  Greenfield  to  come  up 
on  this  first  train.  Another  jokes  him  about  it  and  tells  him 
he  saw  the  man  who  took  the  order  on  his  way  down,  that  he 
had  spoken  of  it  but  that  he  had  said  he  was  to  bring  the  grain 

*  Note. — The  locomotive  of  the  first  train  that  went  over  the  Con- 
necticut &  Passumpsic  Railroad,  as  it  then  was,  in  1848,  was  called 
"The  Green  Mountain  Boy,"  and  had  that  name  in  gilt  painted  on  its 
side.  There  were  at  first,  it  is  said,  only  two  cars,  one  treight  or 
express  and  the  other  passenger.  The  windows  of  the  passenger 
were  small,  of  only  four  small  panes  each  and  there  was  only  one 
window  for  every  two  seats. 

S6 


up  with  him  when  he  came,  not  that  he  was  to  send  it  by  the 
train.  General  amusement  at  the  purchaser's  worry  lest  his 
order  be  not  carried  out  correctly.  Another  says  that  a  cer- 
tain neighbor  has  gone  down  to  East  Thetford  or  to  Pompa- 
noosuc  to  come  up  on  the  train. 

The  engine  is  heard  to  whistle  far  down  the  track.  Great 
excitement.  Every  one  urges  forward  to  see  the  first  train  as 
it  comes  around  the  curve;  some  restrain  others  who  are  in 
danger  of  getting  too  close  to  the  tracks  and  then  themselves 
do  the  same  thing.  The  train  comes  up  and  stops  at  the 
grounds.  Everybody  cheers,  long  and  loud.  The  engineer 
and  the  fireman  wave  their  caps  from  the  cab  of  the  locomo- 
tive. Several  passengers  lean  out  of  the  windows  of  the  pas- 
senger car.  The  conductor  and  the  brakeman  get  off  the 
train.  The  man  who  went  down  to  East  Thetford  to  come  up 
on  the  train  gets  oflT;  he  is  immediately  surrounded  by  friends, 
who  ask  him  what  it  is  like.  He  is  enthusiastic  over  the  ex- 
perience and  especially  dilates  on  the  great  speed  of  the  train. 
From  the  freight  or  express  car  the  two  bags  of  grain  are 
heaved  ofT  and  the  name  ot  the  owner  called  out  loud  to  come 
and  take  his  property.  He  comes  forward,  relieved  and  joy- 
ful, and  amidst  the  good-natured  jokes  of  his  friends  protests 
that  he  never  had  a  minute's  concern  in  regard  to  their  com- 
ing. The  potatoes  are  put  on  board;  the  owner  allows  he  is 
of  a  mind  to  go  up  to  Newbury  with  the  potatoes,  and  asks 
the  man  of  the  grain  if  he  will  take  his  team  home  for  him. 
Yes,  surely  he  will  and  cordially  recommends  the  experience 
of  train  travel.  Just  in  time  he  swings  himself  on  board,  as 
the  train  slowly  starts  up  and  pulls  out  up  the  track.  Again 
everybody  cheers,  and  many  get  up  on  the  track  to  look  after 
it.  He  of  the  grain  loads  his  bags  on  to  the  potato-man's 
wagon  and  drives  ofT  in  the  direction  of  North  Thetford.  The 
people  disperse,  most  of  them  going  off  in  the  same  direction. 


37 


INTERLUDE  II. 

THE  AGE  OF  HOMESPUN  :   THE  SPIRIT  OF  WAR. 

As  a  setting  for  this  interlude  are  groups  of  families  en- 
gaged in  some  of  the  old  home  industries,  such  as  spinning, 
weaving,  threshing  grain  with  the  flail  and  the  winnowing  fan, 
making  maple  sugar  with  the  sap-yoke  and  kettle.  Each  in- 
dustry is  conducted  by  a  family,  thus  representing  the  economic 
conditions  in  the  Age  of  Homespun.  While  these  activities 
are  progressing,  groups  of  old  people  and  young  people  dance 
some  of  the  old  contra  dances.  The  whole  scene  is  joyous 
and  festive,  and  continues  with  a  simple  hilarity  as  if  it  were 
never  to  end. 

Abruptly  interrupting,  with  Tschaikowsky's  March  from 
the  Nut-cracker  Suite  in  the  Orchestra,  the  Spirit  of  War  tears 
in  from  the  south,  clad  in  red.  The  dancing  stops.  The 
Spirit  of  War  is  insolent,  fierce,  cruel  and  mocking.  The 
men  stand  firm,  resolutely  grasping  their  various  implements, 
staring  dauntlessly  at  the  Spirit  of  War  as  she  rages  around 
among  them.  The  mothers  clasp  their  children  to  their 
breasts  or  cling  to  their  husbands.  As  the  Spirit  of  War 
drive  the  people  before  her,  the  men  and  the  women  come 
together  in  a  new  spirit  of  imity.  The  men  come  together  in 
front  of  the  women  to  protect  them.  The  family  lines,  so  dis- 
tinct in  the  days  of  economic  independence,  are  blurred,  giv- 
ing way  to  a  new  community  relationship  born  of  the  times  of 
the  war.  As  the  dance  continues,  the  Spirit  of  War  drives  all 
the  people  away,  remaining  alone  in  possession  of  the  scene 
for  one  last  hysterical  moment  of  fury. 


js 


€pmht  7. 

THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF  POST  MILLS.) 

(Long  roll  on  the  drum.  Enter  members  of  the  G.A.R., 
E.  B.  Frost  Post,  with  their  battle  flag.  They  march  to  the 
knoll  on  the  right  of  the  grounds,  stack  their  arms,  and  stand 
viewing  the  episode,  which  is  played  in  tribute  to  them. 

Enter  a  large  group  of  men,  women,  and  children,  and 
with  them  a  band  of  soldiers  in  heavy  marching  order,  ready 
to  go  to  the  front.  Goodbyes  are  said  as  the  long  roll  con- 
tinues. The  soldiers  fall  into  line,  and  when  the  drum  stops, 
the  sergeant  forms  the  company  and  turns  it  over  to  the  Lieu- 
tenant. ) 

LIEUTENANT 
Parade,  rest!       (He  turns  to  the  Minister,  who  comes  forward 
and  holds  up  his  hand.     All  bow  their  heads. ) 

MINISTER 
O  God,  our  Father,  the  God  of  One  Home  and  of  One  Nation, 
help  us  in  this  our  time  of  need.  Give  us  strength  to  do  our 
duty,  those  of  us  who  go  and  those  of  us  who  stay  at  home. 
Give  victory  to  our  arms,  if  it  be  thy  will,  that  this  broad  land 
many  remain  one  nation  from  north  to  south,  as  from  east  to 
west.  Bless  and  strengthen  our  sons  and  brothers  who  have 
already  gone  to  the  front.  Give  endurance  to  the  wounded  to 
bear  their  sufferings.  Those  who  are  appointed  to  die,  take, 
O  God,  unto  Thee,  and  in  a  little  while,  when  our  time  is  past, 
unite  us  all  again  in  Thine  eternal  Home  in  the  Heavens.  We 
ask  it  in  the  name  of  Him  who  bore  all  things  for  us,  Jesus 
Christ,  Thy  Son,  Our  Lord. 

ALL 

Amen! 

(All  raise  their  heads  and  the  soldiers  look  straight 
at  the  minister  as  he  says  to  them. ) 
God  bless  you,  every   one.      Be  vigilant;  quit  you  like  men; 
be  strong. 

S9 


LIEUTENANT 
Rest!     (Quietly  some  of  the  nearer  relatives  come  up  to  say 
goodbye  once  more;  some  stay  back.     All  is  quiet.) 

MRS.   BROWN 

(to  a  soldier)     Here,  Tom,  when  you  see  Jim,    divide  this 
between  you. 

TOM  BROWN 
No,  mother,  you  keep  it.     You  will  need  it  more  than  we. 
We  will  get  along  all  right. 

MRS.   BROWN 
No,  boy,  take  it.     If   I  come  to  need,  the  neighbors  will  help 
me  out  a  bit. 

A  YOUNG  GIRL 
(Her  hands  on  a  young  soldier's  shoulders).  I  will  think  of 
you  every  minute,  Harry.  (She  gives  him  a  first  aid  kit,  and 
then  draws  back,  as  it  in  terror.)  Here  is  a  first  aid  package 
I  made  for  you,  Harry.  O,  God!  if  you  should  have  to  use 
it!     (She  buries  her  head  on  his  shoulder;  he  kisses  her.) 

MRS.  JONES 
(to  the  same  soldier)      Harry,  put  this  Testament  next  your 
heart  and  keep  it  there  always.       Pray  every  night  and  morn- 
ing, boy! — pray  for  us  at  home!     (She  puts  the  Testament 
into  his  pocket  and  buttons  his  coat  herself  ) 

LIEUTENANT 
(kissing  his   wife  and    turning  to  the  soldiers)      Attention! 
Carry,  Arms!     (etc.,  etc.) 

[The  orchestra  strikes  up  the  Battle  Hymn  of  the 
Republic.  The  soldiers  march  away. 
The  people  then  sit  down  on  the  ground  in 
groups  to  make  comfort  packages  for  the  sold- 
iers. Little  children  scrape  lint.  They  eat  their 
lunches  as  they  work. 

[Enter  running  from  the  northeast  the  Railroad 
Ticket  Agent.       He  is  waving  some  despatches. 

TICKET  AGENT 
A  battle! 

[The  minister  moves  toward  him,  and  he  hands 
the  despatches  to  the  minister.  The  people 
gather  around. 

40 


MINISTER 
(reading)      "It   is   reported   that   a   battle  is   now   raging   in 
southern    Pennsylvania  at  a  village  called  Gettysburg.      The 
President  has  issued  a  call  for  troops."      (An  utter,  appalling 
silence.) 

MINISTER 
(Opening  the  other  despatch  and  holding  up  his  hand)     "List 
of  the  dead,  wounded,  and  missing  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville. "      (He  reads  the  list  of  authentic  names  of  Thetford 
men  so  reported  during  the  Civil  War.) 

MRS.  BROWN 

(When  her  son's  name  is  read)     I  will  go  to  him  — 

TICKET  AGENT 
Don't  think  of  it.     You  cannot  — 

MRS.  BROWN 
Somehow  I  will — 

MRS.  SMITH 
(whose  husband's  name  was  among  the  killed)  Frank  is 
killed.  I  heve  a  little  money  I  had  saved  up  to  go  to  him  il 
he  needed  me.  You  can  have  that.  With  what  you  have 
maybe  you  can  go.  (Mrs.  Brown  takes  her  hand  and  clings 
to  her. ) 

MINISTER 
(reading)     The   body  of  Captain   E.  B.  Frost,  6th  Vermont, 
killed  on  the  field  of  battle  at  Chancellorsville  has  been  ordered 
sent  to  his  home,  Thetford,  Vermont.      (Silence.) 

MRS.  FROST 
(to  her  boy  and  girl)     Come,  Ruth ;  come,  Clinton ;  let  us  go 
to  get  everything   ready  to  meet  him  and  bury   him.      (They 
go  off,  the  Ticket  Agent  following  them. ) 

MRS.  WHITE 
(who  has  been  standing  very  quiet  since  the  list  was  read) 
Missing  !     Missing !     O,  if  I  only  knew.      If   I  could  only  go 
to  him.      I  will !     I  will   find  him  !     (Other  women  put  their 
arms  around  her  and  quiet  her. ) 

JOSEPH  MATSON 
The  President  has  called  for  more  troops.      I  am  too  old  and 

41 


feeble  to  go,  but  I  will  give  money  to  care  for   the  family  of  a 
younger  man  to  go  in  my  place.      (Cheers.) 

TWO  MEN 
I  will  go.      I  will  go. 

ONE  OF  THE  MEN 
We  can  hardly  both  of  us  go. 

THE  OTHER 
We'll  draw  lots.     One  will  go — 

ONE  OF  THE  MEN 
Then  the  other  will  do  the  work  of  two  at  home. 

[They  pick  blades  of  grass  and  go  to  the  minis- 
ter; he  takes  the  blades  and  they  draw. 

THE  MINISTER 
You  go;  you  stay. 

HOWARD  JONES 
(a  boy  of  15  years) 
I  will  go.     Will  you  let  me  go,  mother? 

MRS.  JONES 
Yes,  boy;  you  may  go. 

HOWARD  JONES 
(seeing  tears  in  her  eyes)     I  will  come  back.     You  want  me 
to  go,    don't  you?     You   would  not  have  me  stay  when   the 
President  calls  for  troops,  would  you,  mother? 

MRS.  JONES 
No,    Howard,  I   would  not   have   you   stay.      (Kissing  him) 
Yes,  I  am  proud  of  you. — (Turning  away  and  speaking  hall 
to  herself) — but  you  are  my  last  and  it  is  a  little  hard.      (To 
him)     You  may  go. 

MRS.  SMITH 
(Looking  down  the  track.)     There  comes  the  train  with  the 
wounded. 

A  MAN 
Does  the  doctor  know?     (To  a  boy)     Run  tell  the  doctor. 

[The  boy  runs  up  the  hill  as  fast  as  possible.     At 
the  top  he  turns  and  shouts: 

42 


THE  BOY 

Here  he  comes ! 

[The  doctor  gallops  up  on  horseback  from  some 
distance  back.  He  jumps  from  his  horse,  tosses 
the  reins  to  the  boy,  and  runs  forward  with  his 
kit  as  the  wounded  are  carried  in.  Some  are 
on  stretchers,  some  walk  with  crutches. 

WOUNDED  SOLDIER 

Where  is  Mother? 

MRS.  SMITH 
She's  passed  on,  Mr.   Hopkins.     We  buried  her  two  weeks 
ago.     We  tried  to  get  word  to  you,  but  could  not.      (They 
go  aside,  talking. ) 

MRS.  BLACK 

(Looking  through  the  wounded  for  some  one  and  coming  up 
to  Mr.  Hopkins)  Where  is  Richard?  He  was  reported 
wounded  and  ordered  home. 

MR.  HOPKINS 
That  was  a  mistake,  Mrs.  Black;  he  was  killed.      He  fell  dead 
by  my  side  at  the  time  I  was  hit  at  Chancellorsville.      (She 
tries  to  bear  up  and  he  tries  to  comfort  her. ) 

ANOTHER  WOUNDED  SOLDIER 

(Going  about  on  crutches,  looking  for  some  one,  and  coming 
up  to  Mrs.  Smith)     Mattie! 

MRS.  SMITH 

(turning  and  looking  aghast)  Frank !  Frank !  I  heard 
you  were  dead !  (She  throws  herself  into  his  arms  hysteri- 
cally, 

[The  ticket-agent  runs  in  waving  a  despatch. 
All  turn  eagerly  to  him. 

TICKET  AGENT 

The  Union  is  saved !  The  battle  of  Gettysburg  is  won ! 
Vicksburg  is  taken ! 

ALL 
The  Union  is  saved  ! 

TICKET  AGENT 
The  Union  is  saved  ! 

43 


MINISTER 
America  will  proclaim  the  message  of  Liberty  to  the  nations 
of  the  world,  not  by  the  independence  of  her  States  but  all 
together,  by  the  union  into  one  nation !  But  there  is  still 
much  to  be  done.  And  Vermont  will  do  her  part !  *  Let  us 
go  and  get  ready  to  take  care  of  those  whom  God  has  given 
back  to  us. 

[All  go  out  together.  The  Chorus  sings  the 
Hymn  to  Liberty  by  Arthur  Farwell.  The  G. 
A.  R. ,  last  of  all,  come  down  the  slope,  follow- 
ing their  color  bearer. 


*  Vermont  gave  a  greater  proportion  of  her  sons  to  the  country 
than  any  other  state  in  the  union. 

44 


\ 


Cpisiobe  8. 

THE    INTRODUCTION  OF  MACHINERY. 

[Enter  from  the   northeast    Samuel   Small   and 
Richard  Towne. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
You  ought  to  come  to  the  city.     You'd  do  lots  better.     That's 
where  things  are  happening.      Plenty  of  work;  plenty  of  mon- 
ey.     Look  at  me.      Then  when   you  come  back  to  the  old 
farm,  you  amount  to  something. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
No,  I  like  it  best  right  here.  The  city's  all  well  enough  for 
those  that  like  it,  but  I  can  make  a  living  right  here.  I  have 
my  little  place,  and  get  quite  a  bit  off  it.  Sally  likes  to  attend 
to  the  garden  and  the  chickens,  and  I  get  all  the  extra  work  I 
can  do  from  Ben  Farmer  right  next  door.  He's  got  a  big 
farm  and  I  work  for  him  quite  a  bit. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
You're  slow.     That's  the  trouble  with  you.     You're  behind 
the  times.     You're  a  good  fellow  and  you  ought  to  keep  up 
to  date.      [Claps  Small  on  the  back. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
(Laughing)  It  would  be  all  well  enough  for  you  to  talk  like 
that  if  I  was  not  making  out  all  right,  but  I've  got  things  here 
too  handy  for  making  a  living  and  raising  my  family  for  you 
to  be  able  to  budge  me.  (With  another  laugh)  Did  you 
talk  about  this  to  Sally  ? 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
No. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Well,  you'd  better  not.     She  won't  take  to  the  idea. 

[Enter  from  the  northwest   Benjamin    Farmer 
driving  a  mower. 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
Well,  what  do  you  think  of  that  !      (He  stops  in  the  center.) 

45 


RICHARD  TOWNE 
How  are  you,  Ben? 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
Why,  how  DO  !     Glad  to  see  you  again.     How  are  you  mak- 
ing out  down  Springfield? 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
First  rate.     How's  the  folks  ? 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
Fine!  Well,  I  took  my  time  coming  to  it,  but  I'll  not  be 
sorry  I  got  this  mower.  I  can  do  four  times  the  work  with 
this  in  a  day  with  one  man  than  what  I  could  before  with  four 
men  handling  the  scythe.  Just  look  it  over!  I  can  put  all 
that  rough  pasture  land  of  mine  into  hay  now. 

[He  gets  down  and  the  three  look  the  machine  over. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
That's  great!     That's  great! 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
Beats  all  what  they  do  with  machinery  these  days! 

[Samuel  Small  and  Richard  Towne  start  of?  and 
Benjamin  gets  up  on  his  mower  again.  Then 
Small  comes  back,  while  Towne  goes  on. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
I'll  be  over  soon.       Are  you  going  to  want  me  to  run  that  for 
you? 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 

Well,  you  might  try  it,  if  you  like.  (A  little  embarrassed). 
The  truth  is — the  truth  is,  Sam,  I  won't  need  to  hire  as  many 
men  now  as  I  did  before,  and  yet  I  can  get  more  work  done. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Wha— 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
These  new  machines  get  a  sight  of  work  done.      I  aint   been 
more'n  getting  a  bare  living  out  of  the  place  for  some  time, 
good  a  farm  as  it  is. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
.Say,  Ben   Farmer,  do  you  mean  you  won't  want  me  to  work 
for  you  no  more? 

46 


BENJAMIN  FARMER 

Why,  Sam,  I'd  like  you  to  work  for  me  first  rate.  I've  known 
you  all  your  life,  and  you  always  done  ,^ood  work  for  me.  I 
aint  been  makinjy  more  than  a  bare  living  out  of  the  place  for 
a  long  time.  The  wages  I've  had  to  pay  out  for  hire  eat  up 
everything  there  was  in  it.  In  fact,  I've  been  getting  a  bit  in 
debt.  Now  this  new  machine  will  let  me  catch  up  and  I  may 
get  a  bit  ahead.      It's  like  I  aint  got  no  choice. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Like  I  aint  got  no  choice  either.  (Pause)  Ben,  can't  you 
hold  me  along  a  bit?  It's  taking  half  my  living  away  from 
me.  I  make  a  bit  off  my  own  patch  and  a  bit  working  for 
you,  and  between  the  two  we  get  along  all  right.  But  there 
is  no  living  on  my  five  acres  alone.  (Pause.  Both  men  are 
troubled  and  awkward  inconsequence.)  It'll  break  Sally's 
heart  to  leave  the  old  place.  Her  father  and  two  brothers 
were  killed  in  the  war,  and  it  was  there  her  mother  came  to 
us,  and  died  there,  and  we've  brought  up  our  family  there — 
all  born  in  that  house. 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
I  know,  Sam,  I   know.     I  feel  mean   to  have   to  do  it.      But 
I've  got  to  do  one  thing  or  the  other — go  ahead  or  go  under. 
Anything  I  can  do,  I'll  do  gladly  for  you,  Sam. 

[Benjamin  Farmer  drives  off  toward  the  south- 
east. Down  from  the  same  direction  comes 
Small's  wife,  Sally,  carrying  a  milk-pail  and 
stool. 

SALLY 
Good  morning,  Ben.     That  your  new  mower? 
BENJAMIN  FARMER 


Yes. 


[Sally  comes  down  to  Ben,  who  walks  back  to 
meet  her.  They  talk  together  for  a  moment, 
Sally  looking  thunderstruck.  First  she  looks 
back  at  Benjamin  Farmer,  disappearing  along 
the  road;  again  she  looks  off  as  if  at  her  little 
home,  and  wipes  her  eyes.  Sam  puts  his  arm 
around  her  and  she  lays  her  head  on  his  shoul- 
der. Their  little  boy,  who  has  come  with  her, 
pulls  at  her  skirt.  They  each  take  him  by  the 
hand,  and  he  draws  them  along. 

47 


SALLY 
Well,  we'll  have  to  give  it  up.     There's  nothing  else  for  it. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
You're  a  brave  girl;  you're  a  brave  woman,  Sally.     You're  a 
child  of  the  war  all  right. 

[She  puts  her  hands  on  his  shoulders  again,  then 
braces  up  and  dashes  away  the  tears  from  her 
eyes. 

SALLY 
Come  on.      (She  turns  to  him  with  a  brave  smile  and  holds 
out  her  hand. ) 

[Enter  Richard  Towne  along  the  river  bank  the 
way  he  had  gone. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Hey,  Richard!     (Richard  comes  over  to  them.)     I've  been 
thinking   over  a  bit   what  you  said  about  work  in  the   city. 
Maybe  I  might  consider  it. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
Fine!     Now  you're  talking!     I  thought  Sally  would  not  be 
against  it.      (Sally  smiles  but  says  nothing.) 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Do  you   think  I  could  get  work  there  right  of5?     I  have  no 
money  to  keep  us  on  while  we  wait  for  a  job,  if — if  I  give  it 
up  here. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
Sure  you'll  get  work  right  off.     They  can't  get  men  enough. 
They're  introducing   new  machinery  and  new   methods  right 
along.     There  never  was  such  a  time  for  factories.     The  city's 
the  place  for  live  men. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
But  I've  never  done  any  of  that  kind  of  work. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
Neiter  have  none  of  the  other  new  men.     They've  got  to  take 
new  men.     There  are   none  with   experience.     If  you've  got 
the  stufl  in  you,  you're  bound  to  succeed. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
I  believe  I'll  go. 

48 


RICHARD  TOWNE 
That's  the  way  to  talk. 

[Re  enter  Benjamin  Farmer  on  his  mower. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Ben,  would  you  care  to  buy  my  land  off  of  me? 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
Sam's  coming  to  the  city.      He's  not  going  to  stay  around 
here  hoeing  potatoes. 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
(to  Towne)  So?  (To  Small,)  Well,  I  don't  know  but  I 
might.  It's  a  good  little  piece  of  land.  I  aint  got  much  use 
for  the  house  (Sally  winces  and  turns  away)  that  I  can  see 
just  at  present.  Come  around  and  we'll  talk  price.  I'll  treat 
you  fair  on  it. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
I'll  be  around  tonight. 

RICHARD  TOWNE 
The  city's  the  place.      I  tell  you  this  is  the  age  ol  machinery. 
Everything  in  the  city  is  done  by  machinery  nowadays.      Even 
in  your  own  home.      (Sally  turns  away  again  for  a  moment.) 

BENJAMIN  FARMER 
Well,  we're  introducing  machinery  a  bit  here  on  the  farm, 
too.     This,  for  instance. 

SAMUEL  SMALL 
Yes,  it's  a  case  of  machinery  in  both  places — in  the  country 
and  in  the  town.     Well,  we'll  settle  things  up  tonight. 

[Sam  and  his  wife  go  off  with  the  child  between 
them.  Towne  stops  to  talk  with  Benjamin 
Farmer,  and  as  Farmer  drives  away  he  walks 
along  by  the  mower,  talking  interestedly  as  he 
goes. 


49 


tpi^oht  9. 


THE  RURAL  PROBLEM. 

(PLAYED  BY  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THETFORD  HILL( 

[Enter  from  the  northwest  George  Edwards  and 
his  son,  Joe;  Joe  is  driving  a  load  of  hay,  standing 
on  the  load;  his  father  comes  alongside  and 
pitches  a  forkful  of  hay  onto  the  load. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 

That's  the  last! 

JOE  EDWARDS 
(Receiving  the  hay,  placing  it,  and  then  throwing  his  own  fork 
into  the  hay.)      It's  my  last,  anyhow. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
What  do  you  mean? 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I've  told  you,  many  a  time.     I'm  going. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 

Why? 

JOE  EDWARDS 

You  know  as  well  as  I  do.  I  want  to  try  new  methods  of 
farming  to  get  out  of  this  land  all  there  is  in  it.  You  won't. 
You  just  make  fun  of  it — and  me. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Aint  you  going  to  give  them  notions  up  ? 

JOE  EDWARDS 
They're  not  notions.      It's  no  use,  as  it  is  now.     You're  just 
getting  a  bare  living  out  of  this  farm. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Well,  what  more  do  you  need?  A  living's  not  the  easiest 
thing  to  get  these  days,  and  I've  done  it  right  here  for  a  good 
many  years,  steady.  And  I  know  them  right  here  in  this 
town  that  are  not  doing  that.  The  land  of  this  whole  region 
is  worked  out — that's  the  truth  of  it. 

SO 


JOE  EDWARDS 
Worked  out?     Nothing  of  the  sort.     For  all  we've  been  get- 
ting out  of  it,  this  land's  been  mostly  lying  fallow  for  the  past 
— don't  know  how  many  years. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Fallow!     Hm !     I've  worked  it  pretty  hard,  I  know  that. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
We  don't  know  what  the  land's  best  fitted  for,  or  how  to  han- 
dle it  to  get  the  best  out  of  it,    that's   what's   the   matter. 
We're  behind  the  times. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Oh,  of  course.  Your  father  don't  know  anything,  (Pause) 
That's  one  of  the  notions  you've  picked  up  from  those  Bur- 
lington fellows.  What  do  they  know  about  my  farm?  I've 
been  working  it  now  twenty  years,  lived  on  it  all  my  life  and 
my  father  before  me.  I  guess  I  know  this  farm  better  than 
any  young  man  that  does  his  farming  in  books  and  fusses 
around  in  a  hot-house  over  in  Burlington,  other  side  of  the 
state.      Fallow!     Hm !     That's  where  you  got  that  idee! 

JOE  EDWARDS 
It's  not,  either.      I  heard   Dr.  Whitney  say  that  down  in  New 
York  and  he's  the  head  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils  at  Washington. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Bah!     About  as  good!     See  here,  my  boy,  I  know  this  farm 
about  as  well  as  I  know  you,  and  I  want  you  should  learn  one 
thing:  if   you're  going  to  get  along  in  this  world  and  not  get 
ploughed  under,  you've  got  to  stick  to  facts. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  am  sticking  to  facts.      But  there  are  a  whole  lot  more  facts 
about  this   farm   that  we  can   find  out   for  ourselves,  and   we 
ought  to  find  out  what  they  are. 

[Silence;  a  bit  sullen  on  Joe's  part,  and  the 
silence  of  superior  wisdom  on  his  father's  part. 
Joe  climbs  down  from  the  top  of  the  load  and 
they  feed  the  oxen. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  intend  when  I'm  done  with  this  farm  to  have  a  good  sum  of 
money  out  of  it. 

5^ 


GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Going  to  get  rich,  eh? 

JOE  EDWARDS 

And  leav^e  it  a  richer,  more  profitable  farm  than  it  ever  was 
before. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Hm! 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  want  my  family  to  know   what's  going  on  in  the  country — 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 

They  can  read  the  magazines,  like  we  do.  There's  nothing 
new  in  that. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
And  take  part  in  the  big  movements  that  are  going  on,  if  they 
take  a  fancy  to — and  can. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 

Fancy!  That's  just  about  it.  Joe,  if  you  and  your  family  are 
going  to  do  all  this  that  you've  laid  out, — get  rich  and  all 
that — you'll  have  to  get  up  a  good  deal  earlier  than  you  do 
now  and  go  to  bed  a  good  deal  later. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  get  up  as  early  as  any  one.     You  needn't  say  that. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
I'm  not  saying  as   you  don't.      But  we're  not  trying  to  do  all 
that  at  present. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Hm! 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Joe,  it  seems  like  to  me  you  don't  think  your  bringing  up  has 
been  good  enough   for  you,  quite.     Now  I   can  tell  you  that 
your  mother  .... 

[Enter  Mrs.  Edwards  with  a  jug  of  milk.      Neither 
has  noticed  her  approach. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 
What  are   you  two   threshing  out  now?     (Both   are  silent  a 
moment. ) 

52 


GEORGE  EDWARDS 

Joe  thinks  this  farm  isn't  good  enough  for  him. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
It's  not  so.      I  believe  in  this  farm  a  good  deal  more  than  you  do. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 

Joe!    Joe! 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Well,  he  says  he's   going  away, — going  to  the  city  to  learn 
farming,  and  a  whole   lot  of  new-fangled   things.      His   father 
managed  to  make  a  living  without. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 
Why  do  you  get  talking  about  these  things?     You  don't  agree 
on  them  and  you  never  will. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Father  thinks  I  am  just  a  conceited — :     I  want  him  to  under- 
stand that  I — You  understand,  Mother.     You  know  that  it's 
because  I  care  that  I — 

MRS.  EDWARDS 
Yes,  Joe,  I  know.  You  love  your  father  and  he  loves  you; 
that's  why  he  don't  want  you  should  make  any  mistakes. 
You've  got  to  go  your  own  way  more  or  less,  just  like  he  did; 
but  the  city's  no  place  for  a  young  man.  If  you  went  to  New 
York  or  Boston,  I  should  be  worrying  about  you  every  min- 
ute until  I  had  you  back  safe  again. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
(putting   his  arm   around   his   mother:)     But   that's  absurd, 
Mother.      I  should  get  along  all   right.      I  know  how  to  work 
hard.      I  can  make  my  way. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 
Well,  maybe  you  would.      I  hope  so. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Others  have.     I  can  do  what  others  have  done. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS' 
(going  to  see  about  oxen  and  their  feed)     It  costs   more  to 
live  in  the  city,  and   it's  not  easy  to  get  a  job  down   there  as 
soon  as  you  get  off  the   train.      We  have   not   the   money   to 
keep  you  going  down  there  long. 

53 


MRS.  EDWARDS 

You  are  our  only  child,  Joe,  and  we've  always  done  every- 
thing for  you  we  could — 

JOE  EDWARDS 

I  know  you  have.  Mother. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 
And  planned  everything  the  best  we  knew  how  for  you,  to 
leave  the  farm  to  you  just  as  your  father  got  it.  He  has 
always  said  he  would  not  sell  an  acre  of  it,  because  he  said  he 
wanted  you  should  get  the  whole  farm,  the  old  family  home- 
stead, just  as  it  has  always  been  in  the  family.  And  some- 
times it  has  been  pretty  hard. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  know,  Mother,  you  and  father  could  not  have  done  anything 
more  than  you  have  for  me.     And  I  want  to  make  the  most 
of  it  I  can. 

[Joe  puts  his  arm  around  his  mother  and  kisses 
her;  George  comes  up  and  puts  his  hand  on 
Joe's  shoulder. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
You  are  a  good  boy,  a  good  son,  Joe;  and  you  always  have 
been.  Here,  Joe, — here's  the  whole  farm  that's  going  to  be 
yours  some  day.  You  are  keeping  company  with  the  school- 
teacher. She's  a  fine  girl;  we  like  her,  I'll  set  you  up  right 
now;  stay  at  home. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Thank  you,  father.     But  there  is  not  enough  in  the  farm  for 
all  of  us  the  way  we  are  working  it  now.      It  will  not  take  care 
of  two  houses.      You  know  it  won't. 

MRS.  EDWARDS 

What's  to  hinder  you  living  right  on  with  us?     We'll  be  glad 
to  have  Lettie. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
It's  new  ways  of  working  the  farm   we  need,  Mother.     We 
could   never  get  ahead  if  I  did   that.      I   must  go  and   learn 
HOW  first.      I  must   learn  a  way  to  get  ahead  a  bit  in   money. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Same  as  Luke  Harding. 

54 


MRS.  EDWARDS 
Don't,  George.      Don't  go  away,  Joe!     We  don't  want  you 
to  get  into  any  trouble,  or  run  the  risk  of  it.      We  love   you, 
Joe,  and  we  want  to  do  for  you. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Oh,  I'm  not  going  to  get  into  any  trouble. 

GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Neither  was  Luke.  No,  he  was  going  to  make  a  fortune  in 
New  York.  Some  one  else  made  the  fortune, — all  Luke  had 
of  it.  He  had  a  try  at  the  bread  line,  Learned  to  drink, 
that's  about  all  he  learned.  Joe,  we  don't  want  you  should 
turn  out  like  him, — just  as  you  are  starting  out  to  be  a  man 
and  a  credit  to  us.     Going  that  way,  you  can't  succeed,  Joe. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
Well,  if  you  think  I  am  no  better  than  Luke  Harding, — if  you 
think  I  am  that  sort — 

[He  flings  off,  going  up  the  field.  Enter  from 
the  north-east  Lettie  Davis,  the  school-teacher, 
with  a  number  of  little  children,  dancing  about 
her  and  crying  out,  "School's  out!  School's 
out!"  One  little  girl  runs  up  and  takes  her 
hand  and  walks  along  with  her  teacher. 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
(seeing  Joe  going  ofT  up  the  field)     Oh  Joe ! 

[Joe  turns  and  comes  back  down  to  meet  her 
without  saying  anything.  Lettie  sends  the  little 
girl  on  ahead;  the  children  go  out. 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
What's  the  matter,  Joe? 

JOE  EDWARDS 
The  same  old  thing — only   Father  says  that  if   I  will  stay  he 
will  set  me  up  right  oiT — 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
(eagerly)     Does  he? 

JOSEPH  EDWARDS 
There  is  not  enough  in  the  farm  for  all  of  us  the  way  it  is  run 
now. 

55 


LETTIE  DAVIS 
But  you   would  do  so  much  with   it.     You  are  younger  than 
your  father.     I  know  what  you  could  do.      I  am  not  afraid  to 
trust  to  you. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
It  isn't  a  matter  of  working  hard.  When  Father  was  my  age, 
all  his  future  lay  right  here  in  Thetford.  Now  it's  different. 
Business  is  a  good  half  of  farming  now  and  business  is  spread 
over  the  whole  country.  I  must  make  my  living — our  living 
—  not  as  a  Thetford  farmer  raising  crops  for  my  own  use  or 
the  local  market,  but  as  an  American  farmer  raising  crops  for 
the  general  market,  wherever  it  is.  Business  has  become 
everything,  because  business  men  have  got  together.  Farmers 
must  get  together,  and  I  must  learn  how  to  do  things  that  way. 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
All  right.     Why  not  begin  at  home,  Joe  ? 

JOE  EDWARDS 
What's  the  use?  No  one  here  would  listen  to  me?  And  why 
should  they  ?  No  more  will  they  take  the  lead.  They  are  all 
content  to  scrape  along.  When  it  comes  to  doing  anything, 
they  wait  a  while  first  and  then  sit  back  and  say  they  can't, 
like  Father. 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
Joe — 

JOE  EDWARDS 
The  only  way  is  for  me  to  go  and  prove  to  them  that  I  am 

right,  that  I  can Oh  if  I  could  only  have  them  !     Now 

I  must  go  alone!  It  is  true,  what  they  say,  that  there  is  dan- 
ger in  the  city  for  a  fellow  like  me.  There  is.  There  is  dan- 
ger everywhere.  They  love  me  but  they  do  not  believe  in  me. 
I  have  a  right  for  them  to  believe  in  me  !  They  do  not 
believe  in  me  because  I  am  their  son,  because  I  am  a  Thetford 
boy.  If  I  came  from  anywhere  else, — if  I  were  anyone  else's 
son, — I  might  have  a  chance, — but — it  is  all  wrong!  It  takes 
the  heart  out  of  me.  They  ought  to  back  me  up — me,  me! 
Then  I  could  go  and  win!  Or  stay  and  win,  if  it  were  a  mat- 
ter of  staying! 

[Lettie  looks  at  him  shocked  at  his  outburst. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
I  know  they  love  me;  you  need  not  look  at  me  like  that.     I 

56 


I  know  it  better  than  you  do.      I  want  someone  to  believe  in 
me,  if  it's  only  one!     Let  them  hate  me,  but  believe  in  me! 

LETTIE  DAVIS 
Oh  don't,  don't  say  that,  Joe  !      [She  protests  with  an  almost 
understanding  tenderness. 

JOE  EDWARDS 
(he  starts  away  from  her  and  then  turns  back   impulsively  to 
her,    holding  both  hands  out  to  her)     Don't   you  believe  in 
me,  Lettie? 

[She  thinks  he  is  changing  his  mind  or  that  he 
may  change  it  and  stay  at  home;  she  is  happy 
in  the  hope,  comes  up  close  to  him  and  takes 
his  hands  and  looks  up  into  his  face  affection- 
and  appealingly. 
LETTIE  DAVIS 
Why  do  you  go  ? 

[He  looks  quietly  into  her  eyes  a  moment. 
JOE  EDWARDS 
Because  I  must. 

[The  father  and  mother  have  been  talking  to- 
gether and  watching  the  young  people,  though 
not  hearing  what  they  said.  Joe  returns  to  the 
team,  climbs  up  on  the  load  and  silently  starts 
the  oxen  up  to  drive  them  off.  Lettie  goes 
over  and  joins  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards. 
GEORGE  EDWARDS 
Well,  Mother,  I  reckon  he's  gone. 

[They  go  out,  Joe  driving  the  load  of  hay.  the 
father  and  mother  and  Lettie  walking  beside  it. 
As  they  go,  the  Spirit  of  Thetford  appears 
stretching  out  her  arms  in  compassion  to  them. 


INTERLUDE  III. 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  PAGEANTRY. 

As  the  people  of  the  last  episode  depart  at  the  north-east 
exit,  enter  from  the  north-west  entrance  Thetford,  clad  in 
rather  dingy  green  and  blue,  so  faded  as  to  be  almost  brown. 
She  reaches  out  her  arms  after  the  people  who  have  just  gone, 
in  compassion  at  their  situation.  Her  heart  revolts  in  distress 
at  the  impossibility  of  their   rising  out  of  their  hard  lot;  this 


57 


she  expressed  in  her  movements  and  gestures.  She  appeals, 
though  with  little  hope,  to  all  quarters  of  the  compass,  and 
then  sinks  down  in  hopeless  dejection  in  the  middle  of  the 
nearer  stage.  The  music  continues  in  still  gloomier  strains 
reaching  her  dejection,  as  she  lies  prostrate  on  the  earth. 

With  one  clear  note  in  the  orchestra  bringing  an  element 
of  cheer  and  hope,  there  arises  from  the  wood  at  the  side  of 
the  river,  the  Spirit  of  Pageantry,  the  spirit  of  putting  joy  into 
work. 

[THE  CHORUS  SINGS:] 

Raise  thy  head  !     Stretch  forth  thy  hand  ! 

Victory's  labor  do  not  shirk  ! 
Joy  the  fruit  of  all  the  land. 

If  joy  thou  pour  in  all  thy  work. 

She  is  resplendent,  mystic,  radiant  with  hope  and  joy, 
instinct  with  dignity.  She  does  not  so  much  come  on  as 
arise.  As  she  slowly  approaches  the  gate  between  the  farther 
and  the  nearer  stages,  her  motions  are  all  of  devotion  and 
worship,  stately,  ritualistic.  For  a  moment  she  stands  between 
the  two  elms  as  in  prayer.  Then  her  eyes  come  down  to  the 
earth  and  she  sees  Thetford  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground 
before  her.  Her  first  impulse  is  of  pity;  then  of  kindly  protest 
at  the  wrong  attitude  toward  life.  Slowly  she  goes  to  the 
prostrate  figure  and  summons  her  to  arise,  to  look  abroad  at 
the  beauty  of  the  world,  to  look  up  at  the  radiance  of  the  light, 
to  enter  into  the  joy  of  life,  instead  of  letting  herself  be  ab- 
sorbed in  its  hardship  and  hopelessness.  Thetford  responds 
slowly;  she  looks  up  but  does  not  arise;  she  cannot  believe; 
she  knows  better  from  intelligent  experience.  So  there  follows 
a  series  of  appeals  or  summons  and  responses  and  lapses  into 
dejection,  till  Thetford  arises  and  shows  a  joyous  trust  in  the 
Spirit.  Before,  too  unbelieving,  she  is  now  too  dependent. 
The  Spirit  of  Pageantry  points  her  forth,  impressing  upon  her 
that  she  must  not  depend  upon  her  but  upon  her  own  heart 
for  strength,  and  for  guidance  look  to  the  glory  of  God  and  of 
her  country,  pointing  to  the  sky  and  to  the  south. 

Thetford  clings  to  the  Spirit,  who  gently  repulses  her  and 
points  to  the  south,  where  for  a  moment  is  seen  the  figure  of 
America  on  a  white  horse  with  the  shield  of  the  United  States 
on  one  arm,  and  holding  forth  the  flag  with  the  other.  Thet- 
ford gazes  rapt  in  wonder  at  the  vision; — America  raises  the 
flag  as  a  sign  of  recognition  and  a  call  for  her  allegiance.  At 
the  same  moment  with  a  whirl  the  Spirit  of  Pageantry  van- 
ishes. Thetford  reaching  back  with  one  hand  to  the  Spirit 
turns  back  to  her;  the  Spirit  of  Pageantry  is  gone.  Thetford 
turns  again  to  gaze  at  America;  she  also  is  gone.     She  stands 

58 


still  a  moment  and   then  turns,  reaches   down  to  the  ground, 
draws  forth  a  sword  and  holds  it  forth  straight  over  her  head, 
self-reliant,    strong,   her  face  radiant  with  confidence   in   the 
future,  her  arms  upraised  to  the  heavens. 
[CHORUS.] 

Toward  the  future  cast  thine  eyes ; 

Sunshine  floods  the  heavenly  dome! 
0'f*r  each  roof  the  F.ajjle  flies : 

In  the  Nation  lives  the  Home! 
In  the  blackest  dark  of  ni^ht 

Blaze  thf  suns  of  distant  space: 
Pierce  the  clouds  that  shroud  from  sight 

Glory  in  a  humble  place ! 
Rise!     Build  firm  the  future  town  ! 
Plant  its  acres  !     Reap  its  crops  ! 
Sinj;!     Let  Joy  like  streams  run  down 

From  the  wooded  mountain-tops! 
River,  village,  forest.  Held, 

When  the  songs  of  praise  arise, 
Their  responsive  praise  will  yield  ! 
Toward  the  future  turn  thine  eyes  ! 


CpisJobes;  10=11=12. 


THE  NEW  AGRICULTURE- -THE  NEW   EDUCA- 
TION--THE  NEW  LIFE. 

[Enter  the  Master  of  the  Thetford  Grange  and  Henry 
West,  a  western  farmer,  formerly  a  Thetford  man. 

HENRY  WEST 
Old  Home  Week  is  a  good  thing  I 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 

Yes,  Henry,  it  is  a  good  thing;  it  is  good  for  us  here  at  home 
and  I  think  it  is  also  good  for  you  fellows  who  have  gone  away. 

HENRY  WEST 
This  town  fair  you've  got  started  is  a  good  thing,  too. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Yes,  we  find  it  so.      It  gets  the  whole  town, — the  whole  fam- 
ily— together,  so  to   speak,  once  a  year   to  see  what  we   have 
accomplished  during  the  year.     And  it  always  shows  progress. 

HENRY  WEST 
How  long  have  you  had  them? 

59 


MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
One,  two,  three, — four  years  now.      They  startled  in  a  little 
suggestion  in  an  episode  in  our   Pageant  in  191 1.      It  was  the 
same  as  this  one.     We  are  repeating  it  and  are  going  to  have 
semething  of  the  kind  every  five  years. 

HENRY  WEST 
Our  towns  are  most  too  big  to  have  things  like  this,  out  west. 
But  you  ought  to  see  our  corn  fields  out  in  Minnesota,  furrows 
two  miles  long  are  nothing.     Some  of  them,  you  plough  down 
one  day  and  plough  back  the  next. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Not  much  home  life  in  that,  Henry. 

HENRY  WEST 
(with  a  laugh)     No,  but  its  great  farming!     You  cannot  do 
anything  like  that  in  old  Vermont. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
I  grant  you,  but  Vermont, — and  Thetford — has  no  call  to  take 
a  back  seat  to  any  place.  Look  there,  did  you  ever  see  finer 
cattle  than  those  Holsteins  of  Lewis  Cadwell's?  Or  that  Jer- 
sey bull  of  Harley  Sanborn's? — He's  registered.  Or  those 
Ayrshires  of  Bob  Vaughan's? 

HENRY  WEST 
No,  I  have  not.     They're  fine  cattle.     What  do  you  do  with 
them?     Send  them  to  the  Brighton  market? 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Yes.     Wilder  told  us  there  was  no  place  in   the  country  to 
beat  this   region  right  here  where  Thetford  is  for  fresh  milch 
cows  for  the  market.     And  he  was  right.     We  are  going  in 
for  cattle  strong. 

[A  poor  lean  cow  is  lead  in  at  the  north-west  en- 
trance, and  taken  up  along  side  of  the  fine  cattle. 

HENRY  WEST 
Good  heavens !     What  is  that? 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
That  is  one  ot  our  jokes.  We  bring  a  robber  cow  to  the  town 
fair  as  a  standard  of  comparison.  Used  to  be  a  lot  of  them  in 
the  town,  ate  their  heads  off  and  the  profits  of  the  good  cows 
too.  Now  there  is  not  one  in  the  whole  town.  We  have  to 
go  outside  to  get  one. 

HENRY  WEST 
Everyone  used  to  keep  cows  when  I  was  in  Thetford     Dairy- 
ing was  the  chief  industry. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Nothing  to  what  it  is  now,  though.      We  sell  the  cream  now, 

60 


the  same  as  then;  but  we  get  more  for  it.      It  is   worth  more, 
tests  higher,  and  there  is  a  steady  supply. 

HENRY  WEST 
Use  separators  entirely,  I  suppose. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Oh,  of  course.  There  is  one  that  is  used  a  good  deal  in  town; 
made  in  Vermont,  down  at  Bellows  Falls.  There  are  other 
good  ones,  but  we  like  to  use  Vermont  product  when  it  is  up 
to  standard.  We  show  the  machines  we  do  the  work  with, 
too.  That  has  lots  to  do  with  what  we  accomplish,  of  course. 
There  is  a  corn  harvester,  and  a  cut  away  harrow,  for  instance. 
Familiar  enough,  of  course,  but  we  keep  in  mind  what  we  do 
things  with. 

HENRY  WEST 
Well,  Charlie,  this  is  all  fine.      How  do  you  do  it? 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
We  do  everything  through  the  Grange,  nowadays.  Buy  co- 
operatively and  sell  co-operatively.  The  Railroad  helps  us 
with  our  marketing  too.  Worth  while  of  course:  more  busi- 
ness for  the  railroad  and  more  for  us.  And  we  can  give  most 
of  our  attention  to  the  farming  that  we  know  best. 

HENRY  WEST 
Pretty  big  scale  you  do  things  on  now,  Charlie,  but  still  noth- 
ing like  the  west.     Can't  here.     The  soil  is  too  thin. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
So  are  you.      But  you  claim  to  be  an  A-i   farmer  !      (both 
laugh)     Then  too,  Vermont  has  some  things  you  have  not  got 
out  west,  with  all  your  excursion  rates  down  the  corn-field. 

HENRY  WEST 
What? 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
That  old  Home  feeling,  for  instance,  that  brought  you  back 
right  now.  The  feeling  that  the  land  is  yours, — not  merely 
that  you  paid  for  it,  but  that  you  were  born  and  brought  up 
on  it,  that  you  are  proud  of  it  and  would  work  yourself  to  the 
bone  to  make  the  town  proud  of  you.  You'd  better  come 
back,  Henry.      (Silence). 

[Enter  the  Girl  Pioneers. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
There's  our  best  crop.     Our  boys  and  girls.      Watch  them  a 
bit.      We  believe  in  making  them  good  strong,  healthy,  jolly, 
all-round  youngsters.     The  boys  are  off  on  a  hike. 

HENRY  WEST 
They'll  not  be  here  then. 

6i 


MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Yes,  they  will.     They  are  as  keen  on  the  town  fair  as  anyone. 

HENRY  WEST 
They've  got  Boy  Scouts  and  Girl  Pioneers  everywhere. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Yes,  but  with  us  it  is  town  policy.  It  is  a  development  of  our 
resources  equalled  by  nothing  else.  Not  only  it  makes  them 
men  and  women  from  head  to  foot,  but  it  keeps  them  young. 
They  learn  to  play,  and  when  they  grow  up,  they  will  still 
know  how  to  play,  and  play  with  their  children. 

HENRY  WEST 
We  agree  on  that,  Charlie. 

[Enter  the  Boy  Scouts  on  a  hike. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
It  strengthens  sympathy  between  fathers  and  sons.  There's 
John  Atkins,  he  does  not  understand  his  boy  any  more  than  a 
hen  does  ducks  and  he  knows  he  doesn't.  But  he  says  he's 
going  to  back  him  up  in  anything  that  he  undertakes,  anyway. 
They  play  together,  and  always  have,  that  is  the  secret  of 
it.  Playing  together  goes  deeper  than  understanding,  even. 
Nothing  like  play  to  get  people  together. 

[The  boys  and  girls  join  their  parents  and  all  sit 
down  to  a  basket  picnic. 

MASTER  OF  THE  GRANGE 
Now  we  are  going  to  have  what  we  call  the  Gathering  of  the 
Clan  of  Thetford.  We  all  have  a  picnic  lunch  Town  Fair 
Day  and  then  get  together  and  sing  one  of  our  own  town  songs, 
and  then  have  a  short  union  town  service,  with  our  own  min- 
isters, as  good  as  there  are  anywhere,  and  they  know  us  a 
heap  better.  First  the  Song  and  then  the  Church  Bell.  Join 
us,  Henry?     Glad  to  have  you! 

HENRY  WEST 
More  than  that,  I  guess,  Charlie.      I   think  I  had  better  corne 
home.      (They  sit  down  with  a  group  of  people  and  join  in 
the  picnic,  j     The  Thetford  Song  is  sung; 

Come,  with  a  cheer,  good  neighbors,  come  ! 

P>om  every  Thetford  village  ! 
Leave  your  troubles  !     Leave  the  plough  ! 

Leave  your  hill-side  tillage  ! 
All  the  town  is  gathering. 

As  townsmen  all  together, 
With  purpose  one,  to  stand  and  sing 

In  bright  and  stormy  weather. 

After  a  few  minutes  the  Bell  Rings  and  the  Origan  plays 
"Jerusalem  the  Golden."      [Ail  go  ofT.] 


62 


FINALE: 

THE  TRIBUTE  OF  ALL  THE  TOWN  TO 
VERMONT  AND  AMERICA. 

[CHORUS]* 

Hail!     The  forest  days  of  old! 

They  who  fought  and  won ! 
Wary,  strong,  enduring,  bold! 

Still  they  lead  us  on! 

Hail!     The  homespun  farming  days 

When  they  toiled  who  won! 
Raising  men  of  sturdy  ways, 

Who  still  lead  us  on ! 

Hail!     The  days  that  bore  the  brunt, 

Who  despairing  won ! 
Face  and  heart  still  to  the  front! 

Still  they  lead  us  on! 

Hail!     The  dawn!     Remembering 

All  who  strove  and  won! 
Work  and  struggle,  laugh  and  sing! 

So  shall  we  lead  on! 

Thetford,  with  thy  villages. 

In  their  purpose  one! 
Down  the  years  of  high  success. 

Lead  thy  people  on ! 

Hail !     Vermont !     Green  Mountain  State  ! 

Bravely  hast  thou  won ! 
Ride,  superb  !     Despite  all  fate 

Ever  leading  on ! 

Hail!     America!     All  hail ! 

The  victory  is  won  ! 
Always,  though  through  storm  and  gale, 

The  flag  shall  lead  us  on  ! 

Enter  from  the  pines,  coming  straight  up  out  of  the  ravine, 
Thetford.  She  stands  for  a  moment  motionless  just  out  from 
under  the  shade  of  the  pine  trees.  She  is  beautifully  and 
richly  robed  in  blue  and  green.  On  her  left  arm  she  carries 
her  Pageant-Shield,  with  the  golden  rising  sun  in  the  upper 
part  and  the  mountains,  the  river  and  the  intervale  in  the  lower. 
In  her  right  hand  she  carries  the  Sv^-ord  of  Power.  Her  head 
is  encircled  with  the  laurel  wreath  of  victory.  She  raises  her 
sword  straight  above  her  head,  and  so  stands  a  moment.      In 

*  This  chorus  is  sung  during  the  course  of  the  finale. 

63 


response  to  her  signal  come  all  the  Spirits  of  the  Mountains, 
of  the  River,  and  of  the  Intervale. 

They  mass  themselves  in  front  of  the  others,  facing  Thet- 
ford  and  with  their  backs  to  the  audience,  after  a  march  past 
in  which  they  are  brought  up  in  groups  to  pay  their  homage 
to  Thetford  and  to  the  six  Villages. 

Thetford  turns  around  toward  the  south-east  entrance,  and 
all  turn  inward  to  face  or  half-face  in  the  same  direction,  as 
Vermont  appears  riding  a  Morgan  horse,  coming  in  at  that 
entrance.  She  is  robed  in  green  and  carries  her  shield  and  flag. 
As  she  rides  down  to  where  Thetford  stands,  all  burst  forth  in 
acclaim,  at  the  same  time  raising  their  right  hands  high  in  the  air. 

Vermont  turns  on  her  horse  and  rides  to  the  top  of  the  lit- 
tle knoll  by  the  pine  grove,  and  raises  her  right  hand  high 
above  her  head,  as  a  signal;  then  rides  on  down  the  field  to 
the  south.  Far  down  at  the  end  of  the  vista  is  seen  America 
on  a  white  horse,  coming  at  a  full  gallop.  With  her  as  an  es- 
cort at  some  little  distance  come  the  States  of  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  and 
New  York.  America  is  clad  in  the  traditional  garb  of  Liberty, 
all  in  white,  a  white  liberty  cap  on  her  head.  On  her  left  arm 
she  carries  the  shield  of  the  United  States;  in  her  right  hand 
she  bears  the  American  flag  which  is  flying  in  the  wind.  The 
States  are  robed  in  colors  appropriate  to  them  and  carry  their 
shields  on  their  arms,  but  not  their  flags.  Vermont  faces  the 
approaching  America  until  she  has  come  up  even  with  her, 
when  she  wheels  her  horse  about  and  follows  America,  to  the 
left  and  a  little  behind  her,  and  a  little  in  advance  of  the  other 
states.  As  America  comes  up  to  the  massed  group  of  the 
Pageant  of  Thetford,  she  reins  her  horse  in  abruptly  and  stands, 
the  States  also  halting  in  their  relative  positions.  Instantly 
as  America  halts,  and  raises  the  flag  at  arm's  length,  orches- 
tra and  chorus  burst  forth  into  The  Star  Spangled  Banner. 
America  and  the  States  then  ride  around  and  back  to  a  point 
just  in  front  of  the  pines.  There  they  stand  while,  still  singing, 
the  Pageant  marches  past.  Thetford  leads,  comes  up  and 
takes  her  place  at  the  bridle-rein  of  America.  The  people  of 
Thetford  pass  out  at  the  south-east  exit.  Then,  the  people 
still  singing  beyond  the  grove,  America,  Vermont,  Thetford, 
and  the  States  come  forward  through  the  gate  across  the  nearer 
grounds  and  out  by  the  north-west  exit. 


64 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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